Netflix greenlights Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ for a theatrical release
Netflix is officially giving in. Despite concerns surrounding theatrical vs streaming releases, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is going to theatres before landing on Netflix.
The streaming giant announced Monday that del Toro’s passion project is now slated for a limited theatrical release starting October 17th. It will premiere on Netflix on November 7th, 2025. During the time of Frankenstein’s trailer release in June, Netflix confirmed that it will “premiere globally” on the streaming service in November.
Back then, Netflix was tight-lipped about whether a streaming release was at all in the cards. However, del Toro did suggest the possibility of some theatrical extension for the reboot. With confusion and concerns in their minds, fans were not exactly sold on the idea of Frankenstein not being played in the theatres.
But they can now put those worries to rest with a three-week theatrical window. The upcoming adaptation features an all-star ensemble from the likes of Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi to Mia Goth and Felix Kammerer. Although Frankenstein’s story has several adaptations, del Toro revealed how he plans to address his version in a 2016 interview with Den of Geek.
The writer-director intends to inculcate literary devices and story arcs that were previously left unattended and unaddressed in Frankenstein’s adaptations. This includes the framing device and the North Pole sequence. So, even those who are used to watching several adaptations will find something they haven’t seen before with del Toro’s take on the classic story.
“To this day, nobody has made the book, but the book became my bible, because what Mary Shelley wrote was the quintessential sense of isolation you have as a kid,” he explained. Del Toro has time and again clarified what Frankenstein means to him, having been on a mission to realise it for more than 25 years.
While getting Frankenstein out to the audience was already a dream come true, with a theatrical offering now on the horizon, Netflix has planned a feast. And everyone’s invited.