Guillermo del Toro Plots Bold New Take on Phantom of the Opera
Guillermo del Toro, acclaimed for films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, is setting his sights on a fresh adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera after Frankenstein. Discover what makes his vision unique and what else he’s working on next.
Guillermo del Toro, the visionary behind celebrated movies such as Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, and The Shape of Water, is already mapping out his next big move after Frankenstein. In a recent conversation, the director shared his ambition to reinvent The Phantom of the Opera, a story he’s eager to approach from a completely new angle.
Del Toro’s Unique Vision for a Classic Tale
Del Toro praised Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel, calling it a timeless story he’d like to reinterpret in his own way. He admitted he has several ideas for the musical, but for now, he’s shifting gears away from gothic romance. Still, his fascination with misunderstood monsters continues to draw him toward the Phantom, and he’s determined to bring a deeper emotional layer to the iconic character.
The Phantom of the Opera, because it’s such a classic tale, but I would do it differently. I have a couple of ideas but for now, I’m going into crime and stop-motion.
Reimagining Erik’s Story for a New Generation
The Phantom of the Opera remains one of Gaston Leroux’s most enduring works, centering on Erik, a gifted but disfigured musician who haunts the Paris Opera House. His obsession with the young singer Christine Daaé leads to heartbreak and tragedy. While many know the story from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary 1986 stage musical or Universal’s 1925 silent film, more recent audiences recall Joel Schumacher’s 2004 adaptation starring Gerard Butler.
Del Toro’s approach promises to highlight the Phantom’s loneliness and the pain of rejection, focusing on the emotional complexity of Erik rather than just his darkness. Given his track record with films like Frankenstein, it’s clear he’s interested in exploring the humanity within monsters.
Visual Style and Creative Direction
Visually, del Toro’s gothic sensibilities, showcased in films like Crimson Peak and Frankenstein, seem tailor-made for The Phantom of the Opera. Under his direction, the opera house could become a character in its own right—both haunting and vibrant, setting the stage for a story rich in mood and feeling.
For reference, Frankenstein (2025 ) features a cast including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Christoph Waltz, and Mia Goth, with a runtime of 2 hours and 29 minutes. The film has earned a 7.5/10 rating on IMDb and an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, further cementing del Toro’s reputation for bringing depth and artistry to classic tales.
Juggling Multiple Ambitious Projects
While fans anticipate his take on The Phantom of the Opera, del Toro is also busy with other major projects. He revealed he’s currently writing a crime thriller called Fury, describing it as intense, violent, and unsettling, reminiscent of the tone in Nightmare Alley.
I’m writing it right now, and it’s called Fury, and essentially it’s going back to [the] sort of thriller aspects of Nightmare Alley – very cruel, very violent. Like My Dinner with Andre but [with] killing people after each course.
In addition, del Toro is returning to stop-motion animation, developing an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant for Netflix. With crime, animation, and gothic classics all in the pipeline, his creative future looks as dynamic as ever.
Frankenstein is now available to stream on Netflix.