Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!, a modern spin on The Bride of Frankenstein, has added a new star to its already stacked cast – her very own brother, Jake Gyllenhaal.
The Hollywood Reporter reported the news in a Gyllenhaal profile piece earlier today, in which the Nightcrawler star expresses his ride-or-die love for his sister, as well as confirming the shirt reading “The Bride & Frank” that he wore to host SNL in May was, indeed, a reference to Maggie’s second directorial feature.
Gyllenhaal joins a cast of Christian Bale (who is starring as The Monster), Jessie Buckley (as The Bride), Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening and Peter Sarsgaard. The nature of his role has not yet been confirmed.
A plot synopsis reads:
“The Bride! sees a lonely Frankenstein travel to 1930s Chicago to seek the aide of a Dr. Euphronius in creating a companion for himself. The two reinvigorate a murdered young woman and the Bride is born. She is beyond what either of them intended, igniting a combustible romance, the attention of the police and a wild and radical social movement.”
The Bride! is a fresh take on the 1935 original from director James Whale, which saw a chastened Henry Frankenstein as he attempts to abandon his plans to create life, only to be tempted and finally blackmailed by his old mentor Dr. Pretorius, along with threats from the Monster, into constructing a bride for the Monster.
Elsa Lanchester’s take on the Bride has become one of horror’s most enduring female icons. Needless to say, Buckley and crew have big shoes to fill!
The Bride! is headed into production in March, and will hit theaters next fall on October 3, 2025.
