Frankenstein is a passion project that Guillermo del Toro has been dreaming about since he was a child. He has been working on making this film for over a decade, but it kept getting stalled by one thing or another. The closest he came to seeing it take shape was back in 2018, but again, Universal Pictures scrapped the project. After facing countless hurdles, Netflix finally decided to back the movie, and its filming was completed just last month. However, there is one detail that has left fans feeling disappointed. 

Vanity Fair recently shared a first-look photo from the film, showing Oscar Isaac’s character standing with his back turned to the camera in a laboratory setting. Along with the image, it was reiterated that the movie would be released on Netflix in 2025. This sparked concern among fans, who believe del Toro’s films are meant to be experienced on the big screen. Thankfully, the filmmaker recently stepped in to put those worries to rest. He confirmed on social media that Frankenstein will indeed have a theatrical release.

The goth connoisseur, del Toro recently responded to the post from Discussing Film that stated Frankenstein would be "releasing on Netflix in 2025." He replied with a comment that "Frankenstein will have a theatrical run." However, the director did not provide details about the duration of the theatrical run or the release date of the upcoming movie starring Jacob Elordi, who replaced an Oscar-nominated actor in the role. This move could be a smart choice, especially given fans’ reactions to the Netflix release announcement.

Guillermo del Toro’s Legendary Horror ‘Frankenstein’ To Hit Netflix Soon as Movie Wraps Filming

Fans took to X to voice their discontent about Netflix handling Frankenstein, arguing that it is meant to be seen on the big screen.

The uncertainty surrounding Frankenstein's theatrical release is understandable since Netflix is producing the film. While the streaming giant has given some of its movies a theatrical run- like Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery- most Netflix films are released directly on the platform. Fans, however, are hoping Frankenstein will hit theaters before arriving on Netflix, fearing that a streaming-only release might prevent the film from reaching its full potential.

Many fans were also disappointed with the first-look image and claimed it looked like a screenshot from some video game.

Guillermo del Toro’s previous collaboration with Netflix, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, received a very limited theatrical release in 2022 before it hit Netflix a month later. This strategy was likely designed to meet the Oscar eligibility requirements. But considering the widespread recognition of the Frankenstein story and del Toro’s immense popularity, the film has the potential to perform well in theaters, which would be wise to capitalize on before making Netflix its primary home.

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What do you think about fans' disappointment about the upcoming Frankenstein movie? Let us know in the comments below!