It’s been awhile since we have seen a worthy remake of the film adaptation to Mary Shelley’s classic, ‘Frankenstein.’ (I like to pretend the one with Robert De Niro didn’t exist) Apparently, Guillermo Del Toro is up to the challenge of not only remaking it, but also re-imagining (a new term created after Rob Zombie’s Halloween) the classic as well.
Slashfilm gives us this:
Del Toro says that his vision, which is in the earliest stages of pre-production, will not be a literal adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, rather a permutation on the myth. “The only way to do the Shelley novel is to actually do a four-hour miniseries,” he said. “But I think there permutations in which you can tell the myth in a different way.” Say Del Toro.
I am really happy about this news because I truly respect Guillermo Del Toro as a director. He is one of the only directors out there that can master both mainstream films like Mimic, Hellboy, and Blade 2 and independent/festival favorite films such as ‘Cronos’ and ‘The Devil’s Backbone.’
Since last year’s hit success of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth,’ I think fans will not be furious to hear that he will direct a remake of this classic with his awe-inspiring vision.
I’m looking forward to hearing more news about this film and how different it will be from previous adaptations.
Your thoughts?
As far as I know, re-imagining was coined by Burton during that whole Planet of the Apes thing.
A bit more on topic, I’m a huge fan of Del Toro, but I’d be very dubious about this, I can’t really get behind the idea of another Frankenstein adaptation. At least I’ve got Hellboy 2 and 3993 to look forward to.
My only concern about this project is that Del Toro is due for a flop. Its inevitable that every director at some point will produce a movie that doesn’t live up to the expectations of the industry and it tanks at the box office. The most recent example of this (in my opinion) would be Peter Jackson’s bloated King Kong. It was also a remake and had way too much of Jackson’s “vision” and not enough editing to make it a great movie!
to the person who wrote the comment that I deleted:
Congratulations! You are going to be officially blocked from posting ANYTHING on here. :)
Oh, he went there…
follow up:
Serena, the term “re-imagining” wasn’t coined during or after Zombie’s ‘Halloween’. If it was, explain “Battlestar Galactica”
As much as I dig Del Toro…and I can see brains in jars…
How many times does Frankenstien have to be “re-imagined”?
That includes an underrated favorite of mine, 1985’s “The Bride”, (which was made watchable by Clancy Brown and the late Dave Rappaport) , the recent Dean Koontz miniseries/novel tie ins, having a role in the silly “Van Helsing”, and so on?
I’m NOT saying Del Toro won’t do a good job, far from it. My point is, does it have to be “re-imagined”?
Frakenstein (in my opinion) is the greatest Science Fiction book ever written (especially if you find the orginal 1816 version rather than the censored 1832). So far only one film has actually captured the true essence of the book (now don’t laugh, okay you can laugh) and that is “Young Frankenstein”
Karloff was great, but it’s obvious the book was thrown away, and this was the character Hollywood went to in the years following.
Branaugh’s version tried to get the feel of the book, but failed miserably, still an A for effort (though a d minus for execution)
When watching Young Frankenstein it is very obvious to anyone familiar with the book that Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks went to the source material quite often (as well as the Karloff portrayal)
I for one would love to see Shelly’s Frankenstein done right. And it sounds like this is going to be a labor of love for Del Toro.
I’m Psyched!
I’d rather see him tackle original material but he could probably present the Frankenstein story in a new and contemporary light.
Wasn’t “re-imagining” first used with Burton’s Apes flick?
im pumped for this.
i hated that deniro film.
Ugh. I honestly think this guy is pissing what could have been a very good career down the toilet.
Has anyone seen the projects he’s passed on to stick with these latest films like Hellboy 2….
Finally, news of a possible GOOD remake! Can’t wait to see what Del Toro has in store.
the term “re-imagining” has been around much longer than that
well i want to thank del toro for bringing The Orphanage to the worlds attention.
I just saw it last night and it is fucking amazing. Unbearably tense and left me bawling my eyes out. A great great film……
thoughts: fuck frankenstine. tell a story that hasn’t been told before.