Jacob Elordi Replaces Andrew Garfield and Scores a Frankenstein Win Bigger than an Oscar
A last-minute casting shake-up turned Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein into Jacob Elordi’s star-making showcase, after The Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield exited the Creature role due to scheduling conflicts.
Guillermo del Toro finally unleashed his take on Frankenstein, and Jacob Elordi’s turn as the Creature is the performance everyone’s chewing on. Funny thing: that wasn’t the original plan. The role was first lined up for Andrew Garfield. Here’s how it flipped, why del Toro bet on Elordi, and what it means for awards season.
From Garfield to Elordi: what changed
Del Toro initially had Andrew Garfield set to play the Creature. Then scheduling got messy, Garfield bowed out, and the door swung open for Jacob Elordi. On paper, that’s a bold swap — Garfield’s a heavyweight, between The Amazing Spider-Man, The Social Network, and his knockout in Tick, Tick... Boom! In practice, Elordi storms in and makes the part feel like it was built for him.
Why del Toro zeroed in on Elordi
Speaking with USA Today, del Toro said Elordi first grabbed him in Priscilla — specifically when Elvis loses his cool — and then sealed it with the way Saltburn twists his character from apparent victim into something a lot angrier and more entitled. That range is exactly what you want for the Creature: tenderness, menace, and everything messy in between.
"Some actors, the moment you make contact, you already know them, and you already have years of friendship, even if you just met them. That happened to me. I instantly trusted him [Jacob Elordi]."
The response: loud, and very pro-Elordi
Reviews have been strong across the board, and Elordi’s Creature is the headline. Even the casual chatter is glowing — one viral post on November 9, 2025 basically went, 'jacob elordi i owe you an apology i wasn’t familiar with your game.' If you’re seeing a pattern, you’re not imagining it.
About that Oscars question
Yes, Elordi has a real shot at the 2026 Oscars. Netflix gave Frankenstein a limited theatrical run to make sure it qualified for awards season, and the performance itself checks the boxes voters love: big swings, precision, and a surprising amount of feeling under all the monster mythology. It’s the kind of turn that doesn’t just show human emotion — it refracts it.
- Andrew Garfield was originally set as the Creature but exited due to scheduling conflicts.
- Jacob Elordi stepped in; del Toro cites Priscilla and Saltburn as the spark.
- Del Toro on Elordi: "I instantly trusted him."
- Strong reviews and viral fan praise followed the 2025 release.
- Netflix’s limited theatrical run set the film up for 2026 Oscars eligibility.
Where to watch
Frankenstein is now streaming on Netflix (USA).