Casting Call: Frankenstein

In which we suggest who should star in the next big adaptation, remake, or historical film.

Hollywood’s unrestrained plunder of works in the public domain has created a monster. Well, several monsters: There are currently at least eight major motion picture adaptations or re-workings of Frankenstein in development. It seems, though, that one of those projects may pull ahead of the rest of the pack. Variety reported this week that Fox’s take on Mary Shelley’s novel now has a director: Shawn Levy, the man who was responsible for The Pink Panther and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

That fact, coupled with the trade rag’s description of the film’s “revisionist” script—”a sci-fi take on the traditional Mary Shelley story, focusing on themes of friendship and redemption;” did screenwriter Max Landis even read Frankenstein?—means that we probably shouldn’t get too excited for Fox’s flick. If, however, one of these Frankenstein movies turns out to be a straightforward take on the classic tale of horror and hubris, we’ve got a few ideas about who should be chosen to bring Shelley’s characters to life. (And Levy, if you’re listening—6’8″ Brad Garrett was born to play your monster. We’d just prefer not to cast him in our ideal Frankenstein.)