Everyone knows the story of Victor Frankenstein and the monster he created, but an upcoming film from director Paul McGuigan (Sherlock, Lucky Number Slevin) puts a clever twist on Mary Shelley’s classic horror story by chronicling the fantastic events from the perspective of Frankenstein’s assistant, Igor.
Victor Frankenstein casts X-Men actor James McAvoy and Harry Potter franchise star Daniel Radcliffe as Victor and Igor, respectively, and the pair offer an introduction to the film’s very first trailer.
Directed by McGuigan from a script penned by Chronicle screenwriter Max Landis, Victor Frankenstein follows the eponymous scientist as he recruits his brilliant protégé Igor Strausman (Radcliffe) for an experiment that seeks to divine the nature of life and mortality. As the experiment progresses, Igor and Victor find themselves on the wrong side of the law and faced with the horrifying consequences of their actions, and Igor must attempt to save his mentor from more than just his own obsession.
Along with McAvoy and Radcliffe, the film co-stars Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey), Andrew Scott (Sherlock), Mark Gatiss (Doctor Who), Callum Turner (Queen and Country), and Freddie Fox (The Mystery of Edwin Drood).
It’s worth noting that McAvoy appears to be sporting the shaved head he acquired for the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse sequel, in which he plays the telepathic mutant Charles Xavier.
Victor Frankenstein is a reunion of sorts for the cast and creative team on the award-winning BBC series Sherlock, in which Scott plays Jim Moriarty. Gatiss is one of the co-creators of the series and plays Mycroft Holmes (Sherlock Holmes’ brother), and McGuigan has directed several episodes of the series.
The film is also one of several projects penned by Landis premiering in 2015, also including Me Him Her, this weekend’s American Ultra, and the upcoming Mr. Right.
Originally scheduled to hit theaters in October 2014, Victor Frankenstein will now premiere this year on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 25.
