Frankenstein in books, movies and TV for 2015 and 2016 (Reprinted from Travelmode)

It is arguably the most famous single name in literature and in the cultural psyche of fantasy, representing the dark side of humanity, chills and horrors of many a kind. Frankenstein. And it is about get more familiar with a whole rash of new media projects in the works based, whether directly or very loosely on the name, characters and book written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley emerging in 2015 and 2016, in advance of the 200^th Anniversary(s). Upcoming projects encompass the themes and plot of the Frankenstein story as well as the lives of the creator and her relationship circle.

Here are some of the new iterations to come.

“Victor Frankenstein” a film in production due in 0ct. of 2015  This is a Hollywood film with Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy in a reimagining of the original Mary Shelley novel story, told from the point of view of Dr. Frankenstein’s assistant Igor, played by Radcliffe, who switches from wizard with a scar to sideman to the mad scientist. Except there was no Igor in the book – he came from the movie versions, and with more notoriety from Mel Brook’s comedy spoof of “Young Frankenstein” as a bug-eyed hunchback. Igor wasn’t really in the cannon at all until Universal wanted something for Bela Lugosi to do and put him in “Son of Frankenstein” and needed a creepy character with an accent, spelled with a “Y”. This Igor dresses much better.

“Frankenstein” an independent movie due out in 2015  This is a modern retelling of the story set in Los Angeles by writer/director Bernard Rose, the director of “Candyman” about a present day married couple of scientists who create a monster with dire consequences, told from the point of view of the “monster”.

“Frankenstein Diaries: The Romantics – The Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley” book due out in summer 2015  A novel of Mary Shelley’s life and love story with Percy Bysshe Shelley and their elopement to Paris in 1814 with Claire Clairmont, with additional secrets revealed in an historically reverent illumination of their intimate motivations and the inspiration for the novel.

“Romantic Outlaws: The Extrordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley” a “dual biography” of the author of Frankenstein and her mother by Charlotte Gordon out on April of 2015.

“Frankenstein Code” TV series from Fox due out in 2015  This is a rip of the name for a modern cop drama series according to Fox “taking inspiration from the basic Mary Shelley mythology of a man brought back to life by scientists playing God” centers on a morally corrupt retired cop who is given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead.

“Frankenstein Chronicles” a UK television limited series from ITV  When mutilated stitched bodies float up the Thames River, detectives in Regency period London know that something dark is afoot. The series is shooting in Belfast with Sean Bean, who lost his head in “Game of Thrones”, here playing a detective discovering other severed body parts and tracking down Dr. Frankenstein as a serial killer. “Ripper Street” 60 years sooner.

“A Storm in the Stars” an independent film in development for 2016  Announced with Elle Fanning to play Mary Shelley to be directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour in a period drama telling of the Mary Shelley story according to IMDB, “The love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18 years old Mary Wollstonecraft, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein”. Recently got a boost at the 2015 Cannes Film Market with Hanway Films signing on for sales, with production hoped for in fall of 2015.

“Mary Shelley’s Monster” a film in pre-production for 2016   This is said by producers to be a modern(ish) telling of the Mary Shelley story, focused on the creation of the book and later, according to IMDB  “Mary Shelley strikes a Faustian bargain with her alter ego as she works on her seminal novel”. Sophie Turner, “Sansa Stark” from “Game of Thrones” has been announced to play Mary.

Already here “Frankenstein M.D.” a web series from PBS  A modern young focused web series which reimagines the title character as Victoria Frankenstein, an obsessive prodigy determined to prove herself in the male-dominated fields of science and medicine.

There are probably a few others out there as well. Universal badly wants to revitalize its library  for a new audience. Maybe they can bring James Whale back from the dead and stitch him together with J.J. Abrams. Or maybe Abraham Lincoln will go monster hunting now, if somebody finds his body and sews him up.