Initial Glimpse Of “The Bride” Unveils Christian Bale’s Portrayal As Frankenstein’s Monster

Christian Bale steps into the shoes of Frankenstein’s creature in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride!”, joining a wave in cinema that’s bringing back classic monsters. Mary Shelley’s timeless 1818 novel has sparked numerous adaptations, with Guillermo del Toro’s take expected in 2024. Come 2025, brace yourselves for “The Bride!” a remake of the 1935 sci-fi horror flick “Bride of Frankenstein,” under Gyllenhaal’s direction. With an ensemble cast including Jessie Buckley, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, Julianne Hough, and Bale himself as the monster, it’s another twist in the ever-surprising path of monster movie trends.

Gyllenhaal and her crew are getting ready to film “The Bride!” she recently unveiled a few images. One gives us a glimpse of Buckley as the main character, while another reveals Bale as Frankenstein’s monster. Bale’s look pays homage to the traditional portrayal, complete with stitches and scars. But what really stands out is the tattoo on his chest, just above the stitches, seemingly bearing the word “hope.”

In “The Bride!”, the story unfolds not in present times but whisks viewers back to the 1930s, where a revived young woman surprises her creators with her romantic desires. Against this backdrop, it’s surprising to find Bale’s Frankenstein’s monster sporting a tattoo, giving him a more contemporary look. This decision follows a curious trend in the horror genre, where characters in remakes are given a punk-inspired aesthetic.