Is that really supposed to be Christian Bale?
This is what he looks like as Frankenstein’s monster
He doesn’t look like that in the film: He had to for “The Bride”. Christian Bale in the mask for a long time.
© Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock.com
The first image of Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster has been released. The presentation ranges from classic to surprisingly modern.
It has been over 200 years since the British author Mary Shelley (1797-1851) invented her “modern Prometheus”, better known as “Frankenstein”. Since then, the tragic and often misinterpreted story has been filmed many times – it has been clear for about a year that actress and director Maggie Gyllenhaal, 46, will also try an adaptation of the horror classic. Now Jake Gyllenhaal’s sister, 43, has published the first camera tests her film project called “The Bride” on Instagram and also provided a glimpse of the disfigured Christian Bale, 50, who will embody Frankenstein’s monster.
Bale’s portrayal of the revived “monster” is both classic and modern. Massive scars riddled with metal staples can be seen on his forehead and chest. At the same time, a tattoo peeks out from under his open shirt – the English word “Hope”. The background: “The Bride” is a more modern implementation of the story and transports it according to the industry magazine “Variety” to Chicago in the 1930s.
The titular “bride” was also filmed during the camera test shots. Irish actress Jessie Buckley, 34, can be seen with blonde hair and a black spot over her lips and cheek and is also difficult to recognize. Her character was also brought back to life from the dead. In the new interpretation, she strives for radical social change after her resuscitation. On paper, “The Bride” is reminiscent of “Poor Things,” which recently won several Oscars.
Gyllenhaal assembles a star ensemble
It’s not just Bale and Buckley who will appear in the film, which is scheduled for October 2025. Gyllenhaal’s husband Peter Sarsgaard, 53, as well as Penélope Cruz, 49, and Julianne Hough, 35, can also be seen in it. It wasn’t until January of this year that Annette Bening joined65, still part of the cast.
For Gyllenhaal, “The Bride” is only her second work as a film director. She made her debut in 2021 with the drama “Woman in the Dark”, the film was nominated for three Oscars, including Jessie Buckley in the “Best Supporting Actress” category. When she collaborated again on “The Bride,” she has now become the leading actress.
An interesting side note: “The Bride” isn’t the only Frankenstein film currently in the works. “Pan’s Labyrinth” director Guillermo del Toro, 59, is also working on his version of the material – for Netflix. “Saltburn” star Jacob Elordi, 26, will be seen as the misunderstood film monster, and Oscar Isaac, 45, and Christoph Waltz, 67, will also be involved. A planned release date is not yet known.