Christian Bale Transforms Into Frankenstein’s Monster in First Look at Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘The Bride’

Christian Bale is Frankenstein’s monster in a first look at Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride.” The director, who is teaming up with Warner Bros. for the period film, shared images on Instagram from a recent camera test for the movie. Bale’s monster makes his debut alongside Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter” Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley as the eponymous bride.

Gyllenhaal has assembled an all-star cast for “The Bride.” Starring opposite Bale and Buckley are Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard and Annette Bening. The film’s crew includes “Joker” cinematographer Lawrence Sher.

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“The Bride” is set in 1930s Chicago and puts a spin on the iconic Frankenstein lore. Buckley’s murdered young woman is revived, but her new life surprises her creators as she lusts for romance and ignites a radical social movement. Along with the first look at Bale, Gyllenhaal also teased a photo of Buckley’s bride.

The film is Gyllenhaal’s second directorial effort. Her first was “The Lost Daughter,” which Netflix released to acclaim in 2021. The movie earned three nominations at the 94th Academy Awards: best actress (Olivia Colman), best supporting actress (Buckley) and best adapted screenplay.

Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride” isn’t the only Frankenstein movie on the way. Guillermo del Toro is currently filming his own Frankenstein, starring “Euphoria” and “Saltburn” star Jacob Elordi as the iconic monster. Del Toro’s film is backed by Netflix and features Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley Christian Convery, Charles Dance and Christoph Waltz.

Warner Bros. is set to release Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride!” in theaters and Imax on October 2, 2025.

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