Jacob Elordi's Transformation in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein

Jacob Elordi, the Australian actor known for his roles in "The Kissing Booth" and HBO's "Euphoria," has taken on a transformative role in Guillermo del Toro's Netflix adaptation of "Frankenstein." Elordi portrays the creature, a character that demands both physical and emotional depth. His preparation for this iconic role was notably compressed, as he had only nine weeks to prepare after Andrew Garfield withdrew from the project due to scheduling conflicts. During this time, Elordi was simultaneously filming the WWII miniseries "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," which influenced his physicality for the role.

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Elordi's preparation involved a significant physical transformation, as he had recently lost weight for his previous role, which he described as providing him with a primal instinct that he could channel into the character. He spent four weeks in isolation to delve deeply into the psyche of the creature, aiming to bring a unique interpretation to the character that balances terror with a soulful presence.

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Elordi's career trajectory has seen a remarkable evolution since his breakout role in "The Kissing Booth." His transition to more serious roles, including his work in "Euphoria" and upcoming films like Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla" and Emerald Fennell's "Saltburn," marks a significant shift in his acting repertoire. Returning to "Euphoria" for its third season has been described by Elordi as a life-affirming experience, highlighting his growth as an actor.

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In an interview with "Little Gold Men," Elordi reflected on the challenges of preparing for the role of Frankenstein's creature, emphasizing the emotional and psychological aspects of the character. He noted, “I was coming into it sort of already with the bones of the character in the character that I was playing,” indicating that his previous experiences informed his portrayal.

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While Elordi's portrayal has been met with anticipation, there are inherent challenges in taking on such a well-known character. Critics may argue that the expectations surrounding iconic roles like Frankenstein's creature can overshadow an actor's performance, making it difficult to deliver a fresh interpretation. However, Elordi's commitment to exploring the character's depth may counter these concerns.

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• “I was very lucky that I had lost a great deal of weight because we were playing prisoners of war—so a lot of my instincts and my physicality were kind of very primal at this point,” — Jacob Elordi

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• “I was very lucky that I had lost a great deal of weight because we were playing prisoners of war—so a lot of my instincts and my physicality were kind of very primal at this point,” — Jacob Elordi

Vanity Fair

As Elordi continues to evolve in his career, he is set to headline the adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" as Heathcliff, opposite Margot Robbie. This upcoming project, along with his role in "Frankenstein," positions him as a significant figure in contemporary cinema, with audiences eager to see how he navigates these complex characters.

Vanity Fair