In Select Theaters October 17, 2025 and on Netflix November 7, 2025. Today, we get a new Trailer for this sweeping epic, which took first runner-up for People’s Choice Award at tiff50.
DIRECTOR: Guillermo del Toro
SCREENPLAY BY: Guillermo del Toro
BASED ON: ‘Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.’ by Mary Shelley
PRODUCERS: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber
CAST: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David
Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, with Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz
LOGLINE: Oscar®-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
By David Baldwin
Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) is found gravely injured by the crew of a ship stuck in thick ice. They bring him on board to tend to his wounds and are suddenly attacked by The Creature (Jacob Elordi), a man shrouded in cloth and tattered clothes. They quickly realize he’s not there for them – he’s there for Frankenstein.
Of course, if you know anything about FRANKENSTEIN, you know there is so much more to this story and this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. This particular story, adapted from the legendary novel by Mary Shelley, has long been a passion project of Oscar-winning Writer/Director Guillermo del Toro. And after many decades of waiting, he has finally made what might be his most epic and visually sumptuous film to date.
To watch FRANKENSTEIN is to be transported to another time and place, with a rich, lived-in and highly detailed feel. Sure, there may be some CGI assists all over the frame (likely to cover up that he filmed this in Toronto!). But make no mistake, the set design here is very real and harkens back to a time when grandiose spectacles like this were the norm and not the exception. Those sets are complimented by fabulous costume design, a moody, operatic score from Oscar-winning Composer Alexandre Desplat, beautifully grotesque makeup and bloody gore effects and…well, you get the picture. Visually, FRANKENSTEIN is truly stunning.
While Isaac is stellar as always and Elordi puts in some real work as The Creature (although not enough to make me forget I am looking at a “Hot” Frankenstein), the rest of the Cast are not afforded the time to really hone their characters into anything other than plot devices. Worse, the film feels too long and often overindulgent. The passion del Toro has for the project is apparent from the jump. But that same passion gets in the way of elements that could have been excised or better finessed. Much like many of del Toro’s previous projects, FRANKENSTEIN is absolutely spectacular to look at and not so spectacular narratively.
FRANKENSTEIN screens at TIFF ‘25:
Mon. Sept 8 at 6:00 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Tues. Sept 9 at 11:30 AM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Wed. Sept 10 at 5:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox
Thurs. Sept 11 at 11:15 AM at TIFF Lightbox
Fri. Sept 12 at 6:00 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Sat. Sept 13 at 11:30 AM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Sun. Sept 14 at 9:00 AM at TIFF Lightbox
FRANKENSTEIN arrives in theaters October 17, 2025 and will be available on Netflix November 7, 2025 following its TIFF ’25 Premiere. Today we get new Artwork (above).
DIRECTOR: Guillermo del Toro
SCREENPLAY BY: Guillermo del Toro
BASED ON: ‘Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.’ by Mary Shelley
PRODUCERS: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber
CAST: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, with Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz
LOGLINE: Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
After wildly successful stops in multiple cities across the United States, the Criterion Mobile Closet is making its first trip outside the country!
September 4–7: Toronto, Canada, at the Toronto International Film Festival
Stocked with more than 1,700 of the greatest films from around the world, the Criterion Collection Closet may offer more cinematic inspiration per square foot than any other place on the planet. Filmmakers, stars, and creative luminaries of all kinds come to Criterion to champion their favorite films in our popular Criterion Closet Picks video series. Last year, we opened the door to everyone by taking the Closet out on the road, and Toronto will be our sixth stop. Come in, explore the collection, and make your own Closet video!
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Please note: signing up here does not guarantee entry to Mobile Closet experience, which operates on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Location
Across the street from TIFF Lightbox
350 King Street W
Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
Opening Hours
September 4: 3–7 p.m.
September 5–7: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
In the meantime, enjoy this message from our very first Closet guest, Guillermo del Toro:
Transportation and Parking
Parking space is limited, so rideshares and public transportation are encouraged.
How It Works
The Criterion Closet is stocked with every in-print edition from the Criterion Collection, including box sets, as well as all in-print releases from our Eclipse and Janus Contemporaries lines.
The Mobile Closet will be open to the general public on a first-come-first-serve basis.
You don’t need a reservation to visit the Criterion Mobile Closet—there are no advance tickets or time slots; just show up at the site and find your place in line. Up to five people can share a Closet visit, so bring your friends or make friends in line! (We encourage group visits.)
As long as supplies last, you’ll receive a Criterion tote bag and a printed pocket guide to the Criterion Collection.
Use the pocket guide to find films you love from the Collection. The numbered order of the films in the guide matches the order of the films in the Closet so that you can easily find what you’re looking for once inside.
If you don’t know what to choose, don’t worry! Just tell us about a film or filmmaker you love, and we’ll help you find something that fits you.
Although we’ll have our camera rolling throughout the Closet visit, there’s absolutely no pressure to perform or talk about your selections. Your experience in the Closet is yours to create!
If you would like to film or photograph your visit on your own camera or phone, you’re welcome to use our wall mount.
Each Closet visit will last three minutes. Once the clock starts (spoiler: it’s when you enter!), you’ll have that time to explore the collection or talk about your selections. Don’t worry—the Criterion Closet team is there to help you find what you’re looking for, and if all you want to do is look around, that’s okay too!
No purchase is required, but you are able to buy up to three items with our special Mobile Closet discount of 40 percent off, in honor of our fortieth anniversary. A limited amount of Criterion merch may also be available for purchase at the time of your visit. We accept credit cards only.
At the end of every Closet visit, we take a Polaroid of our visitors with their selections, which will be yours to keep as a souvenir along with the tote bag and guide to the Collection, while supplies last.
You might be featured on our social feeds, so keep an eye out and be sure to follow us on social media: Instagram, X, and Facebook.
If you post your Criterion Mobile Closet experience on social, don’t forget to tag and use the hashtag #criterionmobilecloset
Instagram: @criterioncollection
X: @criterion
Facebook: @CriterionCollection
UPDATE: We share our experience in the Criterion Closet! It was iconic!
Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF, is delighted to announce the first group of honourees of the seventh annual TIFF Tribute Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to cinema and serving as the kick-off to awards season. Academy Award–winning Mexican-born filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, two-time Academy Award winner and boundary-defying artist Jodie Foster will receive the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, award-winning Japanese writer, director, and producer HIKARI will receive the TIFF Emerging Talent Award; and award-winning South Korean actor Lee Byung Hun is the recipient of a TIFF Special Tribute Award, attending TIFF this year with the North American Gala premiere of Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice. Academy Award–winning actor and 2022 Tribute Performer Award recipient Brendan Fraser will return to the Tribute Awards as the 2025 Honorary Chair. The seventh annual TIFF Tribute Awards will take place on Sunday, September 7, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
“We’re thrilled to announce this year’s recipients, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape: from the commanding talent of Lee Byung Hun; the visionary imagination of maestro Guillermo del Toro; the evocative storytelling of HIKARI; to the incomparable career of actor, filmmaker, and icon Jodie Foster. We’re honoured to welcome these exceptional artists to Toronto for the seventh annual Tribute Awards,” said Bailey. “We’re also delighted to welcome back Brendan Fraser, our 2022 Tribute Performer Award recipient, as this year’s Honorary Chair, a beloved artist and past honouree whose warmth, generosity, and passion for storytelling truly embody the spirit of our Festival.”
“I’m honoured to return to Toronto once again and to the TIFF Tribute Awards, this time not as a recipient, but as this year’s Honorary Chair,” said Fraser. “TIFF has been meaningful to me and to be in this role during the Festival’s landmark 50th edition is a privilege. TIFF continues to champion the kind of bold storytelling that brings people together, and I’m thrilled to celebrate this year’s Tribute recipients.”
The TIFF Tribute Awards gala is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser and a world-class celebration of cinematic excellence. Proceeds support TIFF’s 50th anniversary campaign, Transform Together, advancing TIFF’s talent development, honouring visionary artists, and deepening community impact. Presented in partnership with Rolex, with support from RBC, Don Julio, and Fairmont Royal York.
2025 TIFF Tribute Awards Honourees
Guillermo del Toro — TIFF Ebert Director Award, presented by The Tory Family
Guillermo del Toro is attending the Festival with a Gala Presentation of his anticipated live-action feature, Frankenstein. His relationship with TIFF started with his debut feature Cronos (TIFF ’93) and continued throughout the years with Mimic (TIFF ’97), The Devil’s Backbone (TIFF ’01), Pan’s Labyrinth (TIFF ’06), and his People’s Choice Award–winning The Shape of Water (TIFF ’17), which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture and Best Director. Demonstrating his ongoing commitment to Canadian cinema, del Toro curated a TIFF Cinematheque series celebrating Canadian horror earlier this month and was recently honoured with a ceremonial key to the City of Toronto. Named after legendary film critic Roger Ebert, the honour previously known as the Golden Thumb Award has gone to celebrated visionaries such as Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava DuVernay, Wim Wenders, and the late Agnès Varda. Becoming part of the Tribute event in 2019, past recipients include Mike Leigh (2024), Spike Lee (2023), Sam Mendes (2022), Denis Villeneuve (2021), Chloé Zhao (2020), and Taika Waititi (2019).
Jodie Foster – TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix
In a career spanning over 50 years, Jodie Foster is one of the most critically acclaimed actresses of her generation. Her powerful performance in Nyad, which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards, had its World Premiere at TIFF ’23. She now makes her return to the Festival (following The Brave One at TIFF ’07) with Rebecca Zlotowski’s Private Life, a French psychological mystery in which she plays a therapist. A groundbreaker both on and off the screen, Foster has not only built a legacy of complex, powerful performances, including her Oscar-winning roles in The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, but has also championed women filmmakers throughout her directing career, with films like Little Man Tate and Home for the Holidays, among others. The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix; and is inspired by TIFF’s Share Her Journey initiative, created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference in the industry. Past recipients are Cate Blanchett (2024), Patricia Arquette (2023), and Michelle Yeoh (2022).
HIKARI — TIFF Emerging Talent Award, presented by Amazon MGM Studios
Writer, director, and producer HIKARI makes her second appearance at TIFF with the World Premiere of her sophomore feature Rental Family, starring Tribute chair Brendan Fraser. Her debut feature 37 Seconds (TIFF ’19) received the Panorama Audience Award and the CICAE Award at the 69th Berlinale, among other international accolades. Having directed for both film and television, her recent credits include Beef and Tokyo Vice. Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, this award is in the spirit of Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Past recipients include Durga Chew-Bose (2024), Carolina Markowicz (2023), Sally El Hosaini (2022), Danis Goulet (2021), Tracey Deer (2020), and Mati Diop (2019).
Lee Byung Hun — TIFF Special Tribute Award
A global sensation, Lee Byung Hun has achieved massive success across film and television in both South Korea and Hollywood. Before breaking out internationally, he starred in Joint Security Area and A Bittersweet Life, and went on to Korean blockbusters and global hits like Squid Game, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, Red 2, Terminator Genisys, and The Magnificent Seven. This is Byung Hun’s second appearance at TIFF and his second collaboration with Park Chan-wook. He was last in Toronto for the premiere of Concrete Utopia (TIFF ’23) and participated in an In Conversation with… series. This award is presented to an individual who has made an extraordinary and unique contribution to the world of film, leaving a lasting legacy through their dedication and artistry. Previous recipients include Zhao Tao (2024), Andy Lau (2023), Dionne Warwick (2021), and David Foster (2019).
Brendan Fraser — TIFF Honorary Chair
Brendan Fraser’s nuanced performances and compelling role choices have earned him widespread acclaim. He starred in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale (TIFF ’22) and garnered multiple honours, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, a Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and a SAG Award. In HIKARI’s Rental Family, Fraser plays a man hired by a company that provides rental family services, where people are employed to act as stand-ins for friends or relatives. Fraser will next appear in Anthony Maras’ Pressure, portraying Dwight D. Eisenhower, and in 2026, he’ll lend his voice to Tubi’s adult animated comedy Breaking Bear. His other recent work includes Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move, Doom Patrol, Line of Descent, The Secret of Karma, The Poison Rose, Trust, and Condor. Additional credits include Brothers, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, The Affair, and The Field, among many others.
Film Announcement
TIFF will present the North American Premiere of Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, in which Byung Hun stars, as part of the Gala Presentations programme:
No Other Choice | Park Chan-wook | South Korea | Elevation Pictures
North American Premiere | Gala
New this year, Rolex has signed on as the exclusive Presenting Partner of the 2025 TIFF Tribute Awards. RBC, one of TIFF’s long-time Major Sponsors, is a new Supporting Partner. Don Julio and Fairmont Royal York are returning once again as Supporting Partners.
Rolex in Cinema
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing the journey marked by milestones and emotions that culminate in defining moments, determined by a path followed, not just an award. For more than half a century, Rolex has partnered with some of the world’s most talented artists and leading cultural institutions to celebrate excellence and promote the transfer of artistic heritage, creating a link between the past, present, and future. Through the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative, a broad portfolio of arts that extends through architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts, the company confirms its long-term commitment to global culture. In all these endeavours, Rolex supports distinction in the arts and the transmission of knowledge to future generations, who in turn pass on the world’s cultural legacy.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 4–14, 2025. Stay tuned for more TIFF announcements.
FRANKENSTEIN is set to arrive on Netflix November 2025, following its debut at TIFF ’25! Today we get new stills!
DIRECTOR: Guillermo del Toro
SCREENPLAY BY: Guillermo del Toro
BASED ON: ‘Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.’ by Mary Shelley
PRODUCERS: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber
CAST: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, with Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz
LOGLINE: Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
(Photo credit: Netflix)
TIFF is showcasing a dynamic slate of programming and special events this summer including new restorations and a lineup of special guests. Auteur director Guillermo del Toro will return to the Lightbox in July with a thrilling carte blanche series on Canadian horror that the maestro of monsters handpicked himself. TIFF Cinematheque will present a retrospective on Frederick Wiseman featuring new 4K restorations of his films, joining cultural institutions across North America in celebrating his incomparable and influential legacy. Further highlights include a Canada Day screening of David Cronenberg’s Videodrome; an evening with Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland for a free showing of Caring Cabin and post-screening performance on July 5; and on July 20, a music set and discussion led by The Swell Season. Additional special guests coming to TIFF Lightbox this season include Dylan Adamson, Broey Deschanel, Jessamyn Fiore, Heidi Levitt, and Adam Nayman.
Tickets are still available for The TIFF Story in 50 Films, screening June through August and featuring in-person Q&As with James and Roger Deakins; Atom Egoyan and Arsinée Khanjian; Bruce McDonald; Sarah Polley; and more. Curated by Cameron Bailey, this marquee series showcases 50 landmark films from around the world that played a significant role in connecting with audiences and reflecting the story of TIFF. For details, click here.
Looking ahead to the fall, audiences will have the opportunity to explore the films of famed Toronto multi-disciplinary artist and filmmaker Joyce Wieland (1930–1998) in Jigs and Reels: The Complete Films of Joyce Wieland, screening October through November. Co-presented by the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), TIFF Cinematheque, and AD HOC, this major retrospective will complement the exhibition Joyce Wieland: Heart On, opening at the AGO on June 18, 2025. The series is curated by Jim Shedden, Curator, Special Projects & Director, Publishing, AGO, and Georgiana Uhlyarik, Fredrik S. Eaton Curator of Canadian Art, AGO. TIFF Cinematheque screenings will go on sale to TIFF Members on Wednesday, September 24, and to the public on Friday, September 26. Books on Joyce Wieland are now available at the TIFF Shop. Stay tuned for more information.
Information is subject to change. Please visit tiff.net for up-to-date programming details. Tickets for July programming will be available to TIFF Members on Wednesday, June 11, and to the public on Friday, June 13. Tickets for August programming will be available to TIFF Members on Wednesday, July 16, and to the public on Friday, July 18.
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) announced the appointment of new Board Chair Neishaw Ali, President of SPIN VFX who replaces longtime Chair, Christina Jennings, President and Chairman of Shaftesbury. Joining the CFC’s Board of Directors is Academy Award®-winning director Guillermo del Toro who will be officially appointed in October at the annual AGM. Jennings has served the CFC for over 17 years, ten of which she held the role of Chair. She will remain on the Board until October 2024.
These appointments come as the CFC prepares for its annual fundraising Gala that welcomes emerging and established creators, current and past alumni of the CFC, funders and supporters, and will celebrate founder Norman Jewison’s immense contribution to the Canadian and international film community. The CFC continues to fulfill Norman Jewison’s founding intent: to train Canadian talent with the skills necessary to showcase their stories on the world stage.
“Many decades ago, the brilliant Norman Jewison sparked a movement in our industry by creating the CFC, and I am incredibly privileged and humbled to take on this new role as Chair. I am so grateful to Christina for creating such a solid foundation for the CFC. Her passion and commitment to the institution she attended in 1990 is something to applaud, and I am honoured to take on the baton.” said Neishaw Ali. “I feel incredibly fortunate to start my tenure as Chair by announcing the appointment of our industry’s beloved Guillermo del Toro whose vision and mastery had impacted the screen industry in such a remarkable way. Guillermo’s voice is essential and so many of our CFC’s cohorts will benefit from having his input at the Board level.”
“As a filmmaker, I have been deeply moved by the work of Norman Jewison, someone who I had the privilege to know. A big part of his immense legacy is the Canadian Film Centre, the manifestation of his never-ending commitment to helping new filmmakers find their voice,” said Guillermo del Toro. “I am incredibly happy to be joining the Board of Directors and I look forward to working alongside the other members and the CFC staff to help support the next generation of storytellers.”
“Embracing a new chapter of leadership, we are proud to have Neishaw Ali as our esteemed Board Chair. With her visionary expertise and dedication, Neishaw will help steer us towards innovative heights in the ever-evolving landscape of Canadian film. As we bid farewell to the remarkable tenure of Christina Jennings, whose invaluable contributions have shaped the CFC’s journey over the past decade, we express heartfelt gratitude for her unwavering commitment. We are grateful to our new and continuing Board members for their hard work and commitment to the organization,” said maxine bailey, Executive Director, Canadian Film Centre.
“When the Diversity & Governance Committee set about looking for a new Board Chair, Neishaw was the perfect fit,” said Christina Jennings. “She’s the embodiment of creative innovation and excellence. It has been an honour to carry out Norman Jewison’s vision to nurture Canadian talent and I’m proud of what the CFC has accomplished and will continue to be involved for many years to come.”
Having also recently joined the board are writer, producer, entrepreneur and investor Mark Sakamoto, EVP for Think Research, and financial services leader Duane Green, former President and CEO of Franklin Templeton Canada. The CFC gratefully thanks other members of the board whose terms have ended: Eric Belcher, Don Carmody, Suzette Couture, David Cronenberg, Blake Goldring, Eugene Levy, George Lewis, Bob Munroe, Gary Slaight, Ron Suter, and Barbara Williams.
Current Board of Directors are:
Neishaw Ali (Chair), Cheryl Hudson (Co-Vice Chair), Steven DeNure (Co-Vice Chair), David Middleton (Treasurer), David Zitzerman (Secretary), Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ex Officio), Kate Alexander Daniels, Paul Bronfman, Tassie Cameron, Stéphane Cardin, Shirley Cheechoo C.M., Duane Green, Harold Gronenthal, Christina Jennings, Raja Khanna, Anne Loi, John Morayniss, Mark Sakamoto, Hilary Smith, and Clement Virgo.
Hot off the announcement that Andrew Garfield has dropped-out of Guillermo del Toro‘s FRANKENSTEIN due to delays as a result of the SAG-AFTRA strike, we get the exciting news that red-hot Jacob Elordi will be taking over the coveted role of Frankestein‘s Monster. The upcoming Netflix film, a take on Mary Shelley‘s timeless story, is set to begin production shortly in del Toro‘s favourite city of choice.
Others starring in the Film include Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz.
Elordi is riding a high off the massive popularity of HBO‘s Euphoria, the acclaimed Sofia Coppola film PRISCILLA (also filmed here in Toronto) and also the viral buzz of Emerald Fennell‘s SALTBURN. He is set to host SNL with Musical Guest Renée Rapp this weekend, January 20, 2024. Does it get any bigger?
Jacob Elordi hosts the first show of the year with musical guest @reneerapp! THIS SATURDAY pic.twitter.com/9n08sMwxMz
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) January 16, 2024
This is our second time meeting the charming and kind Elordi, who was gracious with fans, with his dog Layla who has Service Dog certification, in tow even. We were so fortunate to get him to sign our PRISCILLA shirt from A24/Elevation Pictures, and even got a selfie together with beanie!
del Toro does no wrong. We are so excited to see his spin on FRANKENSTEIN!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
By Justin Waldman
Yesterday afternoon, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a conversation with Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, moderated by Vincenzo Natali in a post-screening Q&A about PINOCCHIO, now streaming on Netflix. If you’ve ever had the distinct pleasure of listening to del Toro speak, you will know the man doesn’t mince his words, loves to tell stories, and isn’t afraid of shying away from speaking from the heart. His conversations regarding his own works are usually phenomenal and this special event was no different as he went and talked with Gustafson and Natali for a near hour! We had the privilege of sitting-in on the entire and below are some of the highlights of the magical talk, be warned though there is certainly some choice language.
Natali: “Why did you choose to explore what Pinocchio was?”.
del Toro: “Why don’t we make a movie about a father being a real father, instead of a movie about a boy being a real boy which is absolute bullshit.”.
Gustafson: “In the film, Pinocchio comes in the world kind of the way we all do, which is naked, and he goes through the whole story like that and everyone he gets in contact with by the end is changed for it.”.
Natali: “Why the small grim eyes for Pinocchio?”.
del Toro: “I found the art in 2002/2003 of Gris [Grimly] and I just knew this was my Pinocchio….it can be a little bit creepy. At the beginning we decided we didn’t want to make him cuddly.”.
Gustafson: “And he was carved when Geppetto was blind drunk!”.
There was a question posed by Natali about how he pitched the story of this darker re-telling of Pinocchio, to which del Toro originally told a story about how Sony Animation originally greenlit his Pinocchio pitch unheard, but he decided he wanted to pitch it and then Sony decided maybe it wasn’t the project for them because he wanted to tell Pinocchio with Mussolini and the backdrop of World War II. He followed it up by saying, “When someone doesn’t want to do your movie, it’s the second-best news. I learned it in Mimic and the Weinsteins tortured me because they wanted to do Alien 3.5 and I wanted to make mimic. I seek unemployment for the truth.”.
Some other fascinating tidbits of information were when Gustafson mentioned they had 32 puppets of Pinocchio, to which del Toro replied, “It’s like playing with your toys in the most expensive place”.
When probed about why they decided to make their Pinocchio such a dark version, Gustafson indicated, “We decided to never talk down to children, we knew they could handle it”. del Toro decided also to weigh-in with the following “I don’t think Animation is a fucking genre for kids. It’s a medium that can explore sadness and tragedy, and we keep it in that medium [for children] because of economic decisions.”.
This is a sentiment that has been said by many Directors in the past about how Animation should not be seen as a lesser medium, and isn’t always for children.
In a year filled with many fresh takes on Cinema, del Toro left the audience with this quote, “We are only as good as our last shot”. And it suffice it to say this was a pretty superb last shot.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is now streaming on Netlfix.
(Photo credit: Genevieve Walker)
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