Christian Bale Going All Out As Frankenstein Monster

That’s not all. The transformation, commencing with his appearance, will progress to, in the actor’s words, getting “busy getting on the rack, breaking my bones and eating lots of fertilizer or something to try and grow.” Hopefully, he’s at least half kidding. 

Although the actor is respected and renowned for his physical dedication to his roles. The Oscar-winner will be removing all his own hair and possibly chomping fertilizer to take on one of the most iconic characters in literature and film, this time revived in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s upcoming Warner Bros. film. 

The untitled project has already begun to stir considerable buzz in Hollywood.

Christian Bale talked about playing the Frankenstein monster during a recent interview in Palmdale, California. Bale was in Palmdale attending the groundbreaking event for a good cause: a foster center featuring 12 homes, two transitional housing apartments, and a massive 7,000-square-foot community center—all amounting to a community dedicated to keeping siblings together while in foster care. 

It’s an admirable project, and we wouldn’t expect anything less from The Dark Knight. 

The film Bale discussed at the groundbreaking marks Gyllenhaal’s second directorial effort; it boasts an impressive cast—including Jessie Buckley, Annette Bening, and Penelope Cruz. 

The story at the heart of the movie sounds quirky, offering a unique angle on the horror icon’s narrative. Set in 1930s Chicago, the movie focuses on the monster’s quest for romantic love. 

Although details are scarce, we know Christian Bale’s Frankenstein monster enlists a certain Dr. Euphronius to provide him with a companion, leading to the reanimation of a young woman (herself a murder victim), and thus the birth of the Bride. 

Mary Shelley first conceived of Frankenstein in 1818, introduced in her novel, perhaps the worlds first work of sci-fi, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Since the early 19th century, the monster has transcended its literary origins to become a foundational element of film history. 

Before Christian Bale signed on to play the Frankenstein monster, the creature first appeared on film in the 1910 classic produced by Edison Studios, laying the groundwork for the monster’s cinematic legacy. However, the most iconic portrayal debuted in 1931—James Whale’s Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff as the creature (Karloff’s visage is easily the most reproduced). Karloff’s haunting performance and the film’s visual design cemented the monster’s image indelibly in popular culture. 

However much they differ from Shelley’s original narrative, all adaptations thus far have emphasized themes of horror and scientific hubris. Of course, over the decades, Frankenstein reinvented himself in countless films, each incarnation reflecting changing societal concerns and the evolution of the horror genre. However, all versions of the undead icon wrestle with humanity’s fear and fascination with creation, science, and the unknown. 

It’s unclear how Gyllenhaal’s project will contend with these themes or how Christian Bale’s Frankenstein monster will contribute to the mythos. But we can’t wait. 

Source: The Hollywood Reporter