‘Frankenstein’ Star Jacob Elordi Talks Grueling Process To Become Creature

Turns out, transforming into the notorious beast for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein was not an easy task, according to the film’s leading star, Jacob Elordi, who takes on the starring role of the timeless monster.

Months before the horror film premieres in theaters, Elordi sat down for a new profile interview with Variety, where he opened up about the process of becoming “the Creature.” When it came time for Elordi to sit in the makeup chair and undergo a “gruesome” transformation, he revealed that the entire ordeal took about 10 hours to complete. And if you thought that was bad, the 28-year-old actor had to endure the makeup process every day while shooting the film. Now we can only imagine the amount of time it took to take the makeup off. He shared with the outlet:

“There’s so many different layers to the costume. When he’s born, he’s wearing nearly nothing. His chest is open and his head is high. Then, as he starts to experience pain, as we do as a teenager, he starts to hunch his shoulders. And as an adult, he closes off.”

Talk about dedication to the craft. Elordi went on to say that at some point, he “stopped having a clock,” because at the end of the day, it was all a part of the process – and he was excited to be a part of it. He went on to say, “I didn’t do breakfast, lunch or dinner, or think in terms of morning, afternoon, night. It was just one time.”

This certainly impressed del Toro, who commended the young actor for his dedication to the role. “Never once did he come to me and complain,” de Toro shared with Variety. “Never once did he come to me and say, ‘I’m tired. I’m hungry. Can I go?’ And he put in 20-hour days.”

Jacob Elordi Makes the Perfect “Creature” in ‘Frankenstein’

Netflix

Back in July, Netflix unveiled the first-look photos for Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming adaptation of the classic Frankenstein tale. After seeing the photos of Elordi fully in costume, it was hard to think of anyone else who could embody the iconic beast more than the former Kissing Booth actor. From his towering stature, he truly makes the perfect “monster.” That’s why it’s so hard to believe that Elordi wasn’t the first choice for the role. In January 2024, it was announced that the Euphoria star would take on the leading role from Andrew Garfield, who had to leave the project due to “scheduling conflicts.” In the same interview with Variety, de Toro revealed the one feature that Elordi possessed that made him the perfect pick for the part: his eyes.

“I saw Saltburn and I loved his innocence and openness,” the director told the publication. “He plays the victim of a Tom Ripley-type of character and I thought he played it with a lot of range. His character was also capable of being high and cruel. Jacob’s eyes are so full of humanity. I cast him because of his eyes.”

Watch Jacob Elordi play the infamous beast in Frankenstein, which is coming to select theaters on October 17 and is slated to be released on Netflix on November 27.