Film Office for Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders
Film Office for Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders
Frankenstein
Frankenstein, First Look imagery, copyright Netflix
Guillermo Del Toro cites Mary Shelley as the inspiration and motivation for years of creative work. In 2024 his ambition of adapting her masterpiece Frankenstein for the screen came to fruition.
Watch Guillermo Del Toro discussing his experience of filming in Edinburgh
[embed PTC video here]
Mary Wollstoncraft Shelley began writing her gothic novel at Sir Walter Scott's Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva in the summer of 1816 when Lord Byron threw down a challenge to his friends to each write a ghost story. Sir Walter Scott later praised the novel as a work of genius, "of a nature so peculiar". Having lived in Dundee as a girl, Mary knew Edinburgh and included it in her novel.
Edinburgh's gothic and literary heritage appealed to Del Toro when looking for locations for his film, and we were thrilled when he selected locations on the Royal Mile for key scenes. Look out for the busy Edinburgh street (Canongate), the butchers' alley (Bakehouse Close) and Victor Frankenstein's Edinburgh residence off it (Museum of Edinburgh in Acheson House); the marketplace (West Parliament Square) and the hanging square (Makars' Court).
Public executions really did take place in Edinburgh's gothic past in the Grassmarket and on the Royal Mile rather than Makar's Court. Instead, visitors to Makars' Court can explore Edinburgh's literary history at the Writers' Museum. And those interested in finding out more about Edinburgh's gothic past while also visiting one of the locations can visit the Museum of Edinburgh.
East Lothian's Seacliff Beach and Gosford House also play their part, with Gosford featuring as the Frankenstein's family estate.
Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein, c/o Netflix
In addition to working with local crew, particularly in the locations and art departments, the production brought in a cast of 200 (approx) supporting artists from the local community, each of whom was sized and fitted with the most incredible costumes and equipped with a story about what their character was doing in the scene.
More info about the film on Netflix's Tudum pages.
And more information about filming in Edinburgh on our website.
Released in cinemas in the UK from 17 October and on Netflix from 7 November 2025.