Jake Gyllenhaal joins the high-profile cast of The Bride, a reimagined take on the classic Bride of Frankenstein story set to premiere on March 6, 2026, in IMAX theaters. The film promises a blend of crime, romance, and chaos, bringing fresh life to Jessie Buckley’s character as she reclaims her identity in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s original narrative inspired by Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel and the 1935 film adaptation.
A Fresh Vision for a Legendary Story
Warner Bros. has unveiled a new trailer for The Bride, highlighting a darker, more complex version of the Bride of Frankenstein mythos. The story pivots around Christian Bale’s Frankenstein and Buckley’s Bride as they navigate their resurrection and subsequent whirlwind romance in a tense 1930s Chicago backdrop. This updated narrative layers in crime and public scrutiny, with the newly resurrected Bride confronting her own agency against societal forces, including a determined detective played by Peter Sarsgaard and a charismatic movie star portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s interpretation markedly differs from traditional portrayals by granting the Bride a powerful voice and autonomy she lacked in previous versions. Unlike the silent figure of 1935, Jessie Buckley’s character insists on being known simply as the Bride and embarks on a personal journey of self-discovery after emerging from death without memory.
This exploration of identity and agency underscores the film’s thematic core, emphasizing the Bride’s struggle with understanding who she is and carving out her own path amid external threats and internal turmoil.
Why Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale Were Chosen for Leading Roles
Maggie Gyllenhaal detailed her deliberate casting choices, particularly highlighting Jessie Buckley as the embodiment of this more chaotic and fiercely independent Bride. Having directed Buckley previously in The Lost Daughter, Gyllenhaal was confident that Buckley’s capacity to represent a spectrum of emotions—ranging from vulnerability to raw power—made her uniquely suitable for the role.
“I really still don’t know who else could have played this part. I think it’s to do with [Buckley’s] wisdom in knowing that every human being holds the whole spectrum of feelings, so fierce and powerful. And right to that is the deepest vulnerability. So smart, also totally irrational, sexy, and also sometimes ugly. All of it, put together, makes a person. And I think that what’s so extraordinary about her as an actress is that she really allows all of those things to be a part of the work. And so because of that, I think it means that many, many people then can relate to what she’s doing. And the Bride, the part that I was asking her to play, needs all of that in order to work.”
– Maggie Gyllenhaal, Writer-Director
Christian Bale’s casting as Frankenstein was equally intentional, with Gyllenhaal drawing from the original novel’s depiction of the character as a deeply feeling and complex individual. She sought an actor capable of expressing this vulnerability yet toughness—a combination essential to portraying Frankenstein’s monstrous yet human traits. Bale, known for his versatility and intensity, was selected to hold these nuanced facets.
“[Christian] and Jessie had such a real deep and special connection. That’s the thing you can’t anticipate, except that I believe that there are a lot of very good actors, and I think there are a tiny handful of brilliant ones, and those two are brilliant ones… part of the skill of being a brilliant actor is being able to walk up to someone and hand them your heart.
And Christian, listen, I just dreamed big, right? I was like, ‘Okay, I wrote this part. I’m just going to ask whoever I want.’ What’s the worst thing that happens? They tell you no. Can I tolerate being told no? Yeah, I think I can. So I just let my mind wander to ‘Who is Frankenstein? Who is my Frankenstein?’ My Frankenstein is, I really pulled from the book in some ways, in that Frank is in the book is like, he’s so feeling, he’s so vulnerable. He’s so full of need and hunger, and he’s also so smart. I mean Frankenstein in the book just hangs out in a barn and listens to people and learns French. That’s hard to do. And so I needed somebody with all of those characteristics and also tough. Also, he does some f***ed up stuff, this monster, as monsters do. And as, I would say, we all do. So I needed someone that could hold all of that… and be able to hold the monstrous in a way that lets us look at it and go, ‘Yeah, okay, I don’t bash people’s heads personally, but there’s parts of me that have that kind of rage.'”
– Maggie Gyllenhaal, Writer-Director
Family Ties and Key Cast Additions
Maggie Gyllenhaal also spoke candidly about the challenges and rewards of casting close family members, particularly her brother Jake Gyllenhaal as a charismatic movie star and her husband Peter Sarsgaard as the complex detective Wiles. While the siblings have not shared a screen since 2001’s Donnie Darko, the director emphasized the thoughtful consideration she gave before involving Jake to ensure it would be a positive experience for their personal relationship.
“Let’s talk about the people I know. My husband and my brother. I just knew I wanted [Peter Sarsgaard’s character] Wiles to be super, super hot, so I had to ask my own husband [laughing]. No, I think Wiles is a character who you’ll see is both very… he’s done some dark things and is also a hero. And I thought Peter’s really good at that.
And with my brother, I will say he was one of the very, very last people I asked. And he plays a character who is a matinée idol in movies – so, in order to create those old movies that he’s in that are sometimes within the movie, it was a lot of work for him. And I asked him at the very last minute because I wanted to make sure it was right for our relationship. And I spent a lot of time thinking about it, and I came to realize, ‘No, it absolutely was.’ And I haven’t worked with him since Donnie Darko, which I was 20 or something. And it was such a pleasure working with my brother. I would find myself laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face. I loved it. It is true for all my actors, but, of course, there’s a special something with my own brother.”
– Maggie Gyllenhaal, Writer-Director
Beyond the family connections, Maggie Gyllenhaal also praised Oscar nominee Annette Bening, who plays the brilliant but unconventional mad scientist Dr. Euphronius, and Penélope Cruz, whom Gyllenhaal described as taking on a role unlike any she has played before. Cruz’s character, Myrna, shifts between screwball comedy and intense dramatic moments, displaying a versatility that fits the film’s diverse tones.
“…never seen her do anything like this.”
– Maggie Gyllenhaal, Writer-Director
“Sometimes in a screwball comedy and sometimes in the realest, most contemporary scenes… But there was a real ease in putting that together and asking her.”
– Maggie Gyllenhaal, Writer-Director
Gyllenhaal noted the same ease with Annette Bening, highlighting how the actress brings depth to the character of Dr. Euphronius, who plays a key role in Frankenstein’s resurrection experiment.
Plot Mysteries and Rising Anticipation
While many story details remain tightly guarded ahead of its spring premiere, The Bride is generating considerable excitement for its punk-inspired, Bonnie and Clyde-style spin on the Bride of Frankenstein tale. Jessie Buckley’s portrayal promises a compelling exploration of empowerment, while the ensemble cast’s dynamic suggests a thrilling collision of romance, danger, and societal judgment within 1930s Chicago.
This fresh adaptation reinvents a classic horror figure, blending genre elements with psychological complexity that sharply contrasts with earlier silent portrayals. Audiences can expect a film that probes deep questions of identity and autonomy while delivering intense drama and action.
Principal Cast and Characters Overview
- Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s Monster
- Jessie Buckley as The Bride
- Annette Bening as Dr. Euphronius, the mad scientist
- Penélope Cruz as Myrna, a multifaceted character balancing comedic and serious moments
- Peter Sarsgaard as Detective Wiles, torn between his dark past and heroic impulses
- Jake Gyllenhaal as a 1930s movie star with a pivotal presence
