Mary's Monster - What We Know So Far
The word "Frankenstein" conjures up images of a male scientist hunched over a slab, and a lumbering green monster with bolts in his neck. This version of Frankenstein's monster has been popularized by film and television adaptations of the revolutionary original story, which was first written in the 19th century by a young woman named Mary Shelley.
The themes presented in her book, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," are still analyzed to this day, and the novel is often credited with inventing the science fiction genre. The plot follows the titular scientist, Victor Frankenstein, as he develops a method to animate non-living matter. In his reckless pursuit for knowledge, he gives life to a creature made from dismembered corpses. Victor is horrified to see the creature, whose physically grotesque exterior — and dull yellow eyes — prevent him from being accepted by humanity. Abandoned by his creator, the deeply emotional monster ventures off on his own in search of acceptance and companionship. The novel explores themes like ambition, the nature of life and death, responsibility, and the drawbacks of scientific discovery.
The book introduced one of the most famous monsters of all time, and continues influencing popular fiction to this day, but to many, Mary Shelley herself remains a mystery. That may soon change, as Shelley's life will be the focus of an upcoming film titled "Mary's Monster," which is set to start filming in August 2022 (via Deadline). Without further ado, here's what we know so far about "Mary's Monster."
Who's in the cast of Mary's Monster?
As reported by Variety, Danish actress Clara Rugaard is set to star as Mary Shelley and "Game of Thrones" actor Kit Harrington will become one of the many faces of Frankenstein's monster. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo has been cast as Shelley's husband Percy Bysshe Shelley and Sebastian De Souza will tackle the role of the couple's friend Lord Byron, both of whom were present when Shelley began to develop the story of "Frankenstein" (via American Society of Authors and Writers).
Rugaard seems excited to tackle the role of Mary Shelley, saying, "I am incredibly honoured to jump on board this project and be a part of telling the story of such an influential and revolutionary woman." Harrington has similar sentiments and is quoted as saying that he's looking forward to portraying "I'm relishing the idea of depicting the unique part of The Monster. An embodiment of Mary Shelley's psyche" (via Deadline).
Frankenstein's monster is supposed to be terrifying to behold, so it will be interesting to see how Harrington transforms into the creature Shelley commits to the page. Since he's playing a figment of Mary's imagination, the representation of his character could go in any number of directions. Frankenstein's monster isn't inherently evil, so it's possible that the version of the creature presented in the film will be one that audiences haven't seen before (or perhaps more reminiscent of Robert De Niro's take in the 1994 film, rather than the more famous Boris Karloff version).
Based on a screenplay by Deborah Baxtrom, "Mary's Monster" will be directed by Farren Blackburn.
What is the plot of Mary's Monster?
Shifting focus from the numerous adaptations of her novel, "Mary's Monster" will instead give viewers a glimpse into the inner workings of the mind behind the madness. With a script that Kit Harrington made a point to praise as being unique, it seems like "Mary's Monster" will see Shelley embark on an emotional journey that mirrors the challenges faced by the characters in "Frankenstein" (via Variety).
As reported by Deadline, the movie's official synopsis reads: "Mary is seduced by her own inner monster catapulting her into a dangerous, destructive psychological romance. Realising the monster is inextricably linked to her own mental state, her only route to salvation is in bringing him to life."
It's true that Mary Shelley had her fair share of demons. Similar to Victor Frankenstein, Mary's life was plagued with death. Faced with the death of her mother, her half-sister, and four out of five of her children, the author dealt with her share of loss, to say the least (via McCarter Theatre Center). It's no wonder that the concept of reanimation and the dangers of defying nature are central to the plot of "Frankenstein." Shelley's seminal work is still entertaining readers to this day, so it will be fascinating to see how she's portrayed in "Mary's Monster."