Full Breakdown
Guillermo del Toro Receives BFI Fellowship, Unveils Stop-Motion Adaptation of “The Buried Giant”
5/9/2026, 4:14:59 AM
BFI Fellowship and Announcement of “The Buried Giant”
Guillermo del Toro was presented with the British Film Institute’s Fellowship, its highest honor, in London earlier this week. The ceremony was followed by a career Q&A at the BFI Southbank, hosted by BFI executive and film historian Jason Wood. In the discussion del Toro disclosed his next project: a stop-motion adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2015 novel *The Buried Giant*. He characterized the film as a demanding adult-oriented stop-motion work, distinct from family-friendly fare.
Production Team and Stop-Motion Rationale
The screenplay is being co-written with Dennis Kelly, noted for *Matilda the Musical*. Ron Perlman, a long-time collaborator of del Toro, will appear in the film, though his role has not been disclosed. Netflix will produce the picture, re-uniting del Toro with the streaming service after his previous year’s adaptation of *Frankenstein*. Del Toro cited his 2022 stop-motion version of *Pinocchio* as proof that live-action mixed with puppetry creates an “uncanny valley,” and argued that using a single material for all creatures preserves visual cohesion, even though the process will take years.
Official Statements & Responses
Del Toro emphasized that a uniform visual language is essential to avoid dissonance between actors and fantastical elements, and that the film’s difficulty is intentional to serve an adult audience without diluting Ishiguro’s source material. The BFI’s presentation of its top honor was framed as institutional recognition of del Toro’s contributions to cinema, reinforcing his status as a leading auteur.
Criticism & Opposition
The source material did not contain any dissenting commentary or criticism regarding the upcoming adaptation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Ron Perlman’s specific character has not been disclosed, and the production timeline beyond a multi-year estimate was not detailed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you do a live action Pinocchio and all of a sudden a puppet walks through it becomes uncanny valley, which is a horrible thing that doesn’t belong in the same world,” — Guillermo del Toro
- “Just like if you do a live action movie about an old couple crossing a landscape full of trolls and fairies, and there are special effects and actors.” — Guillermo del Toro
- “I want all the creatures to be of the same material. It’s gonna take us years. And it’s incredibly difficult.” — Guillermo del Toro
- “He’s coming on the next movie.” — Guillermo del Toro (referring to Ron Perlman)
- “fascinatingly difficult stop-motion movie for adults” — Guillermo del Toro
- “without any concession to a family audience.” — Guillermo del Toro
What’s Next
Later this month del Toro will present a 4K restoration of *Pan’s Labyrinth* in the Cannes Classics program, and the BFI will release a new 4K copy of his debut feature *Cronos*.
