The Bride! is an upcoming adaptation of Mary Shelley’s acclaimed Gothic novel Frankenstein, both written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The movie stars Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, and Peter Saarsgard in the lead roles, with Penelope Cruz and Annette Bening also appearing in The Bride!’s cast.

Gyllenhaal’s movie is currently slated for a 2026 release date, coming out less than one year after Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of the same story. There have been countless rumors circulating about The Bride!, with initial reports claiming that it would be a musical comedy instead of the expected Gothic horror.

Peter Saarsard recently spoke about the project, dispelling many of the existing rumors while confirming that his wife’s film certainly won’t be a typical adaptation of Shelley’s much-adored story. In an interview with ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, the actor confirmed that it will be “controversial” and “very punk.” Check out his comments below:

“I’m going to say that it’s going to be controversial […] I mean, it’s very punk. It’s very radical in some ways, and the main characters in it are very imperfect. It’s also a love story, basically. It’s about the monster in all of us.”

What Saarsgard’s Comments Mean For The Bride!

The Actor Teases A Very Different Kind Of Frankenstein

While the actor is clearly trying to hold back from revealing too much about the ambitious project, it’s clear from Saarsgard’s comments that The Bride! isn’t meant to be a very loyal adaptation of Frankenstein. In fact, the project is said to be more reminiscent of Bride of Frankenstein, with Buckley portraying the monster’s wife in the lead role.

This leaves plenty of room for experimentation in The Bride!, as Gyllenhaal isn’t necessarily confined by the expectations of Shelley’s narrative. Interestingly, The Bride’s release date was pushed back following an extended production and reportedly poor test screening reactions, which also seem to indicate the level of ambition and subversion that’s gone into Gyllenhaal’s project.

Our Take On The Bride!’s Stylistic Changes

Gyllenhaal’s Project Could End Up Splitting Audiences

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the most frequently adapted stories ever told, so it’s not surprising that Gyllenhaal clearly wants to separate her project from the source material and try something new with her adaptation. However, Saarsgard’s comment that it’s ultimately about “the monster in all of us” proves that, at least on the surface, the key message of humanity is still there.

Given the reports of Guillermo del Toro’s hyper-authentic and unwaveringly loyal adaptation of Frankenstein that’s coming later this year, perhaps it’s a good thing that Gyllenhaal’s version won’t go down the same route. Despite The Bride!’s reportedly poor test screenings, the director clearly has something interesting under her sleeve that’s going to take audiences by surprise.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline