Monsters, monsters, everywhere. Frankenstein in books, movies and TV 2015
It is arguably the most famous single name in literature and in the cultural psyche, representing the dark side of humanity, chills and horrors of many a kind. Frankenstein. And it is about get more familiar with a whole rash of media projects in the works based, whether directly or very loosely on the name, characters and book written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley emerging in 2015 and 2016, in advance of the 200th Anniversary(s). The book of “Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus” was first published anonymously in 1818, but an introduction in a later edition placed the beginning of the book in 1816, during a visit to Geneva by the Shelleys and Lord Byron. Upcoming projects encompass the themes and plot of the Frankenstein story as well as the lives of the creator and her circle.
Here are some of the new iterations to come.
“Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley” Audiobook to come in 2018. The audio version of the genre bending and ground-breaking speculative autobiography of Mary Shelley telling if her elopement with Percy Shelley and her step-sister Clair Clairmont in 1814 is due in June. Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley: Frankenstein Diaries Info
“Victor Frankenstein” a film in production due in 0ct. of 2015 This Hollywood film with Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy is a reimagining of the original Mary Shelley novel, told from the point of view of Igor, the hunchback assistant played by Radcliffe, who switches from top wizard with a scar to deformed second fiddle to the scientist. Except there was no Igor in the book – he came from the movie versions, and with more notoriety from Mel Brook’s comedy spoof, “Young Frankenstein”. Igor wasn’t really in the cannon at all until Universal wanted something for Bela Lugosi to do and put him in “Son of Frankenstein” and needed a creepy character with an accent. Victor Frankenstein Movie
“Frankenstein” an independent movie due out in 2015 This is a modern retelling of the story by writer/director Bernard Rose, the director of “Candyman” about a present day married couple of scientists who create a monster with dire consequences, told from the point of view of the “monster”.
“Frankenstein Diaries: The Romantics – The Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley” book due out in summer 2015 A speculative autobiographical novel of Mary Shelley’s life and love story with Percy Bysshe Shelley and their elopement to Paris in 1814 with Claire Clairmont, with additional secrets revealed in an historically reverent illumination of their intimate motivations and the inspiration for the novel. Frankenstein Diaries Trailer
“Frankenstein” TV series from Fox Pilot for series due out in 2015 This is a rip of the name for a modern cop drama series according to Fox “taking inspiration from the basic Mary Shelley mythology of a man brought back to life by scientists playing God” centers on a morally corrupt retired cop who is given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead.
“Frankenstein Chronicles” a UK television limited series from ITV When mutilated stitched bodies float up the Thames River, detectives in Regency period London know that something dark is afoot. The series is shooting in Belfast with Sean Bean, who lost his head in “Game of Thrones”, here playing a detective discovering other severed body parts and tracking down Dr. Frankenstein as a serial killer. “Ripper Street” 60 years sooner.
“Mary Shelley’s Monster” a film in pre-production for 2016 This is said by producers to be a modern(ish) telling of the Mary Shelley story, focused on the creation of the book and later, according to IMDB “Mary Shelley strikes a Faustian bargain with her alter ego as she works on her seminal novel”. Sophie Turner, “Sansa Stark” from “Game of Thrones” has been announced to play Mary.
“A Storm in the Stars” an independent film in development for 2016 Announced with Elle Fanning to play Mary Shelley to be directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour in a period drama telling of the Mary Shelley story according to IMDB, “The love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18 years old Mary Wollstonecraft, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein”. Storm in the Stars Mary Shelley Movie
Already here “Frankenstein M.D.” a web series from PBS A modern young focused web series which reimagines the title character as Victoria Frankenstein, an obsessive prodigy determined to prove herself in the male-dominated fields of science and medicine.
There are probably a few others out there as well. Universal badly wants to revitalize its library for a new audience. Maybe they can bring James Whale back from the dead and stitch him together with J.J. Abrams. Or maybe Abraham Lincoln will go monster hunting now, if somebody finds his body and sews him up..
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