The call came just as Jacob Elordi was packing for a surf trip, the waves beckoning after months of grueling rehearsals. His agent’s voice crackled through the speaker: Guillermo del Toro wanted him—needed him—for Frankenstein. It was a dream role, but accepting meant breaking a sacred vow, one made to the woman who knew him best.
It’s Oscar season, and, as is tradition, we’ve been drip-fed some pretty fun tidbits about the leading films up for awards that strike a more personable, fun tone rather than the usual press tour patter. Such is the case with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which received 15 nods, including Best Picture. All of which could’ve never happened had star Jacob Elordi not broken a promise he made to his mother to never work with the acclaimed director.
While speaking at a BFI IMAX screening of Frankenstein with del Toro in London, Elordi revealed the story behind his broken promise to his mother. The promise wasn’t recent, but one he made when he was 10 years old. Back then, Elordi recounted how he would “raid the horror aisle” at Blockbuster when they were still a thing (RIP, big dog). It was there that he first got an eyeful of the enchanting DVD cover of del Toro’s 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth.
“And I saw the tree and the little girl, and I turned around, the DVD case, and I saw the Pale Man,” Elordi recalled. “And I remember thinking, ‘What is that?’”
While the film has the distinction of ranking as our favorite del Toro film, it’s also received an MA rating in Australia and an R rating in the United States, placing it exceedingly low on Mama Elordi’s list of films to let her child watch. She ultimately acquiesced to Elordi’s curiosity by renting the film, like parents are wont to do, but it came with a catch: “You must never work with this man.”
“And lo and behold,” Elordi said, with a laugh, according to Variety.
“It’s good to disobey one’s mother,” del Toro added.
As Variety notes, Elordi’s casting as Frankenstein‘s Creature came by happenstance when the original actor that del Toro had pegged to play him pulled out nine weeks before shooting the film. Despite having just four weeks to prepare for the whole thing, Elordi said he had no fear because he was so excited and sure of the movie after reading its screenplay for the first time.
“There’s no other filmmaker on this planet that could make a truly great Frankenstein film,” Elordi said.
And as far as Elordi and his mother are concerned, he said he plans on making up for that broken promise by bringing her to the Oscars. Hopefully, del Toro and company will take home a couple of trophies to further smooth things over after everything is said and done.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
The clapperboard slammed shut, the echo bouncing off the cavernous set. Jacob Elordi, buried under layers of prosthetic makeup, finally exhaled. He’d just wrapped a particularly grueling scene for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, a project that felt both like a triumph and a betrayal of the woman who knew him best: his mother.
It’s Oscar season, and, as is tradition, we’ve been drip-fed some pretty fun tidbits about the leading films up for awards that strike a more personable, fun tone rather than the usual press tour patter. Such is the case with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which received 15 nods, including Best Picture. All of which could’ve never happened had star Jacob Elordi not broken a promise he made to his mother to never work with the acclaimed director.
While speaking at a BFI IMAX screening of Frankenstein with del Toro in London, Elordi revealed the story behind his broken promise to his mother. The promise wasn’t recent, but one he made when he was 10 years old. Back then, Elordi recounted how he would “raid the horror aisle” at Blockbuster when they were still a thing (RIP, big dog). It was there that he first got an eyeful of the enchanting DVD cover of del Toro’s 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth.
“And I saw the tree and the little girl, and I turned around, the DVD case, and I saw the Pale Man,” Elordi recalled. “And I remember thinking, ‘What is that?’”
While the film has the distinction of ranking as our favorite del Toro film, it’s also received an MA rating in Australia and an R rating in the United States, placing it exceedingly low on Mama Elordi’s list of films to let her child watch. She ultimately acquiesced to Elordi’s curiosity by renting the film, like parents are wont to do, but it came with a catch: “You must never work with this man.”
“And lo and behold,” Elordi said, with a laugh, according to Variety.
“It’s good to disobey one’s mother,” del Toro added.
As Variety notes, Elordi’s casting as Frankenstein‘s Creature came by happenstance when the original actor that del Toro had pegged to play him pulled out nine weeks before shooting the film. Despite having just four weeks to prepare for the whole thing, Elordi said he had no fear because he was so excited and sure of the movie after reading its screenplay for the first time.
“There’s no other filmmaker on this planet that could make a truly great Frankenstein film,” Elordi said.
And as far as Elordi and his mother are concerned, he said he plans on making up for that broken promise by bringing her to the Oscars. Hopefully, del Toro and company will take home a couple of trophies to further smooth things over after everything is said and done.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
The premiere was a blur of flashing lights and champagne flutes. Jacob Elordi, arm-in-arm with his mother, watched as the credits rolled on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. He squeezed her hand, a silent apology for the promise he’d broken, a promise born from a child’s fright and a mother’s love.
It’s Oscar season, and, as is tradition, we’ve been drip-fed some pretty fun tidbits about the leading films up for awards that strike a more personable, fun tone rather than the usual press tour patter. Such is the case with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which received 15 nods, including Best Picture. All of which could’ve never happened had star Jacob Elordi not broken a promise he made to his mother to never work with the acclaimed director.
While speaking at a BFI IMAX screening of Frankenstein with del Toro in London, Elordi revealed the story behind his broken promise to his mother. The promise wasn’t recent, but one he made when he was 10 years old. Back then, Elordi recounted how he would “raid the horror aisle” at Blockbuster when they were still a thing (RIP, big dog). It was there that he first got an eyeful of the enchanting DVD cover of del Toro’s 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth.
“And I saw the tree and the little girl, and I turned around, the DVD case, and I saw the Pale Man,” Elordi recalled. “And I remember thinking, ‘What is that?’”
While the film has the distinction of ranking as our favorite del Toro film, it’s also received an MA rating in Australia and an R rating in the United States, placing it exceedingly low on Mama Elordi’s list of films to let her child watch. She ultimately acquiesced to Elordi’s curiosity by renting the film, like parents are wont to do, but it came with a catch: “You must never work with this man.”
“And lo and behold,” Elordi said, with a laugh, according to Variety.
“It’s good to disobey one’s mother,” del Toro added.
As Variety notes, Elordi’s casting as Frankenstein‘s Creature came by happenstance when the original actor that del Toro had pegged to play him pulled out nine weeks before shooting the film. Despite having just four weeks to prepare for the whole thing, Elordi said he had no fear because he was so excited and sure of the movie after reading its screenplay for the first time.
“There’s no other filmmaker on this planet that could make a truly great Frankenstein film,” Elordi said.
And as far as Elordi and his mother are concerned, he said he plans on making up for that broken promise by bringing her to the Oscars. Hopefully, del Toro and company will take home a couple of trophies to further smooth things over after everything is said and done.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Every actor has that one phone call, the one that changes everything. For Jacob Elordi, it came with a caveat – accepting the role in Guillermo del Toro’s *Frankenstein* meant directly disobeying his mother’s explicit command. It was a collision of ambition and filial duty, a high-stakes gamble with his career and his mother’s peace of mind hanging in the balance.
It’s Oscar season, and, as is tradition, we’ve been drip-fed some pretty fun tidbits about the leading films up for awards that strike a more personable, fun tone rather than the usual press tour patter. Such is the case with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which received 15 nods, including Best Picture. All of which could’ve never happened had star Jacob Elordi not broken a promise he made to his mother to never work with the acclaimed director.
While speaking at a BFI IMAX screening of Frankenstein with del Toro in London, Elordi revealed the story behind his broken promise to his mother. The promise wasn’t recent, but one he made when he was 10 years old. Back then, Elordi recounted how he would “raid the horror aisle” at Blockbuster when they were still a thing (RIP, big dog). It was there that he first got an eyeful of the enchanting DVD cover of del Toro’s 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth.
“And I saw the tree and the little girl, and I turned around, the DVD case, and I saw the Pale Man,” Elordi recalled. “And I remember thinking, ‘What is that?’”
While the film has the distinction of ranking as our favorite del Toro film, it’s also received an MA rating in Australia and an R rating in the United States, placing it exceedingly low on Mama Elordi’s list of films to let her child watch. She ultimately acquiesced to Elordi’s curiosity by renting the film, like parents are wont to do, but it came with a catch: “You must never work with this man.”
“And lo and behold,” Elordi said, with a laugh, according to Variety.
“It’s good to disobey one’s mother,” del Toro added.
As Variety notes, Elordi’s casting as Frankenstein‘s Creature came by happenstance when the original actor that del Toro had pegged to play him pulled out nine weeks before shooting the film. Despite having just four weeks to prepare for the whole thing, Elordi said he had no fear because he was so excited and sure of the movie after reading its screenplay for the first time.
“There’s no other filmmaker on this planet that could make a truly great Frankenstein film,” Elordi said.
And as far as Elordi and his mother are concerned, he said he plans on making up for that broken promise by bringing her to the Oscars. Hopefully, del Toro and company will take home a couple of trophies to further smooth things over after everything is said and done.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
The text message blinked on Jacob Elordi’s phone: “Call me. Now.” It was his mother, and he knew, somehow, that she knew. The news had broken: he was starring in Guillermo del Toro’s *Frankenstein*. A cold dread washed over him; he’d broken a promise, a promise rooted in childhood terror and a mother’s protective instinct. This wasn’t just another role; it was a family drama playing out on a Hollywood stage.
It’s Oscar season, and, as is tradition, we’ve been drip-fed some pretty fun tidbits about the leading films up for awards that strike a more personable, fun tone rather than the usual press tour patter. Such is the case with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which received 15 nods, including Best Picture. All of which could’ve never happened had star Jacob Elordi not broken a promise he made to his mother to never work with the acclaimed director.
While speaking at a BFI IMAX screening of Frankenstein with del Toro in London, Elordi revealed the story behind his broken promise to his mother. The promise wasn’t recent, but one he made when he was 10 years old. Back then, Elordi recounted how he would “raid the horror aisle” at Blockbuster when they were still a thing (RIP, big dog). It was there that he first got an eyeful of the enchanting DVD cover of del Toro’s 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth.