[Video] Check Out Jacob Elordi’s Transformation into Frankenstein’s Monster That Took 10 Hours a Day
Jacob Elordi has fully transformed into Frankenstein’s monster in Guillermo del Toro’s new film, and the process was as grueling as it was impressive.
The Australian actor steps into the icy landscape as a towering figure in black, perfectly capturing the tragic creature, but it almost wasn’t him. Nine weeks before filming, Andrew Garfield, who was originally set to play the monster, dropped out due to a scheduling conflict. Elordi stepped in and completely made the role his own.
Mike Hill, head of prosthetic makeup effects, praised Elordi’s performance. “I know that there’s a lot of press saying how good [Elordi] was physically for the part, [standing at] 6’5”. Yes, he was a fabulous canvas for me to play with and to work this creature on. But there’s also a soul in there, and there’s an active performance in there,” Hill told ELLE.
Elordi endured marathon 10-hour makeup sessions each day, with 42 prosthetic pieces covering his entire body, including 14 just for the head and neck. Hill said, “Without Jacob Elordi’s patience, this would not have been possible.” It took about 90 minutes to remove the prosthetics, often aided by an inflatable sauna in Elordi’s trailer.
Jacob Elordi spent up to 10 hours a day in the makeup chair for his transformation in 'Frankenstein'
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• 42 prosthetic pieces across his entire body
• 14 pieces just for the head and neck
• He’d sometimes arrive at midnight and stay up all night
“Never once did he come to me… pic.twitter.com/qDQFX06mk0
The creature’s design was inspired by human anatomy and Mary Shelley’s original novel rather than classic Hollywood interpretations. There are no bolts in the neck or green skin. Hill and costume designer Kate Hawley worked closely with del Toro to create a figure that feels man-made yet natural. “When you saw him, you immediately knew that he was man-made. He’d been tailored, he’d been designed,” Hill said.
Hawley explained how the costume reflected the world of the film. “I look at the environment and the world they’re building and what Mike was doing, and then I work from the inside out. I reflect those elements through the costume,” she said.
The creature’s clothing even incorporated elements from a Crimean War battlefield, including a military coat built from a skeleton killed in combat. “The coat—it’s another man. It’s like another flayed skin that you’re putting on,” Hawley said.
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Frankenstein, a film by Guillermo del Toro, starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz, is coming to select theaters October 17 and on Netflix November 7. pic.twitter.com/TEAEvvHVEf
The team also drew inspiration from art, including Caravaggio, to give the creature a dark, romantic look. The wig and hair were designed to appear as if they came from different scalps, with natural mid-range tones rather than stark black or exaggerated white streaks. “Let’s make it earthy. Let’s make him look like this newborn, fractured doll—but as he grows, he’s becoming human. Make him as earthy and as human as you can,” Hill said.
Elordi’s commitment went beyond just sitting in the chair. Hill recalled, “Never once did he come to me and complain. Never once did he come to me and say, ‘I’m tired. I’m hungry. Can I go?’ And he put in 20-hour days.” The actor even stayed up all night sometimes, arriving at midnight for long sessions. Despite the grueling schedule, Elordi maintained his focus and embraced the role, occasionally sharing lighter moments, like hugging his dog Layla while in full makeup.
The collaboration between del Toro, Hill, Hawley, and Elordi extended to every detail, from the prosthetics to the costumes to the overall silhouette of the creature.
Hawley described watching Elordi move in the costume like “seeing a child learning to walk.” Every seam, bandage, and garment was designed to tell the story of the creature, reflecting both his humanity and the care, or lack of it, he receives from Victor Frankenstein.
Elordi’s performance and transformation are central to the film’s visual and emotional impact. “There were moments of real magic,” Hawley said. “You’re witnessing the collaboration between Guillermo and his actors, or walking onto the set, seeing the result of how everyone works together. You’re sitting there going, ‘How often does this happen in your life?’”
The result is a Frankenstein’s monster that feels alive, human, and tragic, brought to life through relentless dedication, intricate design, and a close collaboration between actor, director, and the creative team.
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