Del Toro to Resurrect Frankenstein!

[ZION]

Helmer also talks Potter and The Hobbit!
by Orlando Parfitt, IGN UK

UK, January 4, 2008 - Guillermo del Toro -- visionary director of Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth -- is apparently planning a movie version of Mary Shelly's monster classic Frankenstein.

The Mexican helmer told MTV News he's in planning on the "definitive take" of the spooky tale, and revealed that he's already begun pre-production duties and is crafting several drawings. "I started doing some notes before the strike," he revealed. "[During the strike] I can only draw now."

Apparently, he's always been interested in directing a version of Frankenstein. He explained: "The only way to do the Shelley novel is to actually do a four-hour miniseries, but I think there are permutations in which you can tell the myth in a different way."

Tantalisingly, del Toro also spoke about possibly directing fanboy heavyweights The Hobbit and the final Harry Potter film.

The director's name has already been mentioned for the last hurrah of the bespectacled boy-wizard, and he did nothing to quash speculation by saying he was "definitely interested" in the project and that he enjoys the darker tone of the recent movies, saying "after Alfonso Cuaron directed Prisoner of Azkaban, the movies have evolved greatly into a very nice universe to play at (in)." He also said how Dickensian he feels the Harry Potter series is, and said the last line of Deathly Hallows was a "beautiful, subdued way" to end the book.

Regarding The Hobbit, meanwhile, del Toro revealed he's heard rumblings, but nothing concrete. He said: "I keep an open mind, but nothing is official." Peter Jackson is on-board as producer for two Hobbit movies, though the Oscar-winning New Zealander has stated he won't direct the Tolkien-penned prequels.

Going back to Frankenstein, assuming the project does ever see the light of day, don't expect it any time soon. The Mexican helmer already has several projects on the go, including the H.P. Lovecraft adaptation At the Mountains of Madness, spooky Spanish-set horror film 3993 and possibly a Tarzan re-make.

[ASoron0424]

A fantastic, humble, brilliant filmmaker. I wish this guy the best, he hasn't failed to deliver yet.

[Wrathborne]

I thought his Hellboy film's second act needed much work, but hes a very talented man, after the mess Stephen Sommers made of 'Van Helsing', be nice to see actually talent do something with an age old tale.

[ASoron0424]

I actually liked Mary Shelly's Frankenstein with Robert De Niro, but it was far from being a horror. A more intense spin on this would really help.

[KING]

He's a brilliant filmmaker, but I wish he wouldn't fuck with the classic.

[Chief Falling Rock]

I love Del Toro and lets face it, yes I would watch anything he did. But Frankenstein has been done TO DEATH. I wouldn't mind seeing him do somethin with Tarzan like it mentioned though. A darker toned Tarzan with it raining all the time and him hiding in the shadows. Have him fight some big cats and stuff. That could be cool.

[dead breed]

Awesome. Love the director.

[Aurone]

I love Del Toro and lets face it, yes I would watch anything he did. But Frankenstein has been done TO DEATH. I wouldn't mind seeing him do somethin with Tarzan like it mentioned though. A darker toned Tarzan with it raining all the time and him hiding in the shadows. Have him fight some big cats and stuff. That could be cool.

I agree. Tarzane would be interesting, but Frankenstien, like Dracula, has had so mny versions of it that it's gotten old.

[ZION]

Sound awesome. Even though I came up with the idea several months ago. Mine, however, would go back to the roots of horror itself. Basically, a composite of the book and the Universal version. Plant the story in modern day, and possibly work the taboo subject of stem cell research into the story. That last one's a possibility. Make the monster a poor, pitiful creature filled with such anger and pathos. I'd cast Ron Perlman as Frankenstein's monster.

On an unrelated story, I'm considering writing a small story that serves as a crossover between Re-Animator and Frankenstein.

Not modern day.

[choptop2]

Are you tackling the "controversy" over using embryos for stem cell research? because now it's been discovered they can make stem cells from adult skin cells. (At least in mice)

Better hurry up before your project becomes horribly dated.