A Plea to Guillermo del Toro

With the release of Frankenstein (2025), audiences are reminded of Guillermo del Toro’s ability to transform classic literature into visually striking, emotionally resonant cinema. Fans are already speculating: what other beloved stories might del Toro bring to life next? His blend of dark fairy-tale sensibility, meticulous production design, and empathetic monster-making makes almost any Gothic or fantastical tale feel ripe for reinvention.

The Phantom of the Opera

Gaston Leroux

Del Toro’s fascination with tragic, monstrous figures would fit naturally with Gaston Leroux’s tale. The Paris Opera House could become a labyrinth of shadows and opulent decay, and the Phantom’s humanity could be emphasized alongside his terror.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Robert

Louis Stevenson

Del Toro has consistently explored the duality of human nature, making Stevenson’s story a natural fit. A retelling could balance stark realism and grotesque fantasy, emphasising psychological horror while allowing Hyde’s transformation to be both horrifying and tragic. Oscar Isaac or Javier Bardem could capture Jekyll’s intelligence and inner conflict, while a lesser-known actor with physicality could transform into a terrifying Hyde.

Carmilla

Sheridan Le Fanu 

This early vampire novella aligns with del Toro’s interest in morally complex female antagonists. Carmilla could be rendered with the same rich, tactile textures seen in Crimson Peak, blending gothic decay with menace. Del Toro excels at portraying evil without flattening it into caricature, allowing her to feel vivid and compelling. Deva Cassel or Katie McGrath could portray the mysterious Carmilla.

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens 

Del Toro could bring visual richness to Dickens’ story, highlighting obsession, desire, and social decay. Miss Havisham’s world could be a gothic feast, while Pip and Estella’s emotional arcs could gain new intensity through his atmospheric storytelling. Tom Blyth would capture the aspirational Pip.

The Sandman

E.T.A. Hoffmann

Hoffmann’s darkly whimsical tales suit del Toro’s love of the uncanny. The boundary between imagination and reality, psychological tension, and tragic protagonists align closely with his cinematic style. Bill Skarsgård could embody the eerie, enigmatic Sandman, giving the story an unsettling, otherworldly presence.

The Erl King / The Tiger’s Bride

Angela Carter

Forested landscapes and living, grotesque creatures could bring the mythic elements to life, blending horror and fantasy.

Del Toro has a proven talent for taking familiar stories and making them startlingly new. From gothic horror to period drama, his adaptations honor the source material while enhancing it with meticulous design. For casting, younger actors with physical grace, such as Anya Taylor-Joy or Thomasin McKenzie, could portray the human protagonists encountering these monstrous figures.