Earlier this year, Universal had announced that their Dark Universe characters were going to be part of their ‘Epic Universe’ theme park which is set to open next year, and we just got a first look at some animatronics for characters like The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolf Man, and Dracula. Check these out:

Meet some of the animated figures in Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, coming to Universal Epic Universe.

Visit the link to learn more: https://t.co/tfhMxLPwhe pic.twitter.com/Cq7qdpRuvy

— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) October 29, 2024

Though stills of the characters look pretty amazing, it’s when they start to move is when it gets pretty impressive. Check this out:

Here’s your first peek at some of the animated figures wreaking havoc in Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.

Learn more: https://t.co/N1BBmRm3vE pic.twitter.com/qYgyzLyNYi

— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) October 29, 2024

Here’s the official description for the ride:

“Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment will take guests deep into the catacombs of Frankenstein Manor, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein – the great-great-granddaughter of the infamous Henry Frankenstein – conducts her twisted and misguided experiments… In a vain display of her genius, she invites guests to witness a demonstration of her ability to control monsters – but her plans go awry when a horde of enraged monsters are unleashed. Guests then embark on a terrifying ride through the darkness as they try to evade Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and more.”

We don’t know if there are more unmentioned monsters that will be appearing on the ride, but the video did say that there are going to be 14 special animatronics that will be in the manor. Then again, it’s possible that they have multiple animatronics of the same character so they can ‘follow’ guests along for the ride.

Universal may have a hard time getting these monsters back on the big screen in the Dark Universe, but the ride should be fun enough on its own. The monster designs are still iconic, and anyone can easily get spooked by Frankenstein’s monster even if they haven’t seen any of the movies.

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is set to launch alongside the Epic Universe which opens sometime in 2025.

Deadline reports that the postponements due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes has led to Garfield not being free to do the Frankenstein movie, and he has now been replaced by Saltburn and Euphoria actor Jacob Elordi.

Elordi will be joining a cast that includes Christoph Waltz, Lars Mikkelsen, Felix Kammerer, David Bradlet, and Christian Convery. The leads will be played by Mia Goth and Oscar Isaac—who will be playing the part of Doctor Victor Frankenstein.

We don’t know exactly how del Toro plans to make his version different, but we do know he has a penchant for that wet, sunken aesthetic in his films. Del Toro is also not subtle about his love for monsters and horror, so if we’re going to see a character that’s a mash of different body parts from dead bodies, I’m sure del Toro will have a unique take on the look.

What are the odds Elordi won’t even be recognizable in the film?

So far, the move doesn’t have a release date yet, but with productions back up after the strike, we should get an update for the movie soon. Maybe a first look around Halloween won’t be so bad?

No release date has been set for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, but we should expect it to hit Netflix soon. Meanwhile, you can check out del Toro’s take on Pinocchio now streaming.

Just in, Deadline reports that the film is already in talks with three major stars who will appear in the movie—namely Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Andrew Garfield. We don’t have any details about who they could be playing, but I’m guessing Isaac and Garfield could be up for the part of Frankenstein and Igor; Goth is said to be eyed for Frankenstein’s love interest.

It’s been said that del Toro has been developing this Frankenstein project for a while, and with his penchant for monsters, it’s no mystery that he would have his eyes set on one of cinema’s most iconic ones.

With del Toro changing the Pinocchio story so that he doesn’t ever change into a ‘real boy,’ I wonder how he could alter the Frankenstein story to fit his own original take. Will it be set around WWI? With so many takes on Frankenstein over the decades, del Toro must have something unique if he really wants to push forward with this version.

If I were to make a guess, I think he would actually change the gender of the monster so that it would be Mia Goth who would be playing the part. She’s no stranger to body horror, and maybe there could be an interesting angle to Frankenstein creating a woman instead.

Then again, I am just spit-balling here.

No release date has been set for del Toro’s Frankenstein, but you can check out Pinocchio now streaming on Netflix.