The Bride!

The Bride! — Release Date: 06 March 2026. Written, co-produced, and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, the film is a gothic crime drama inspired by the 1935 classic Bride of Frankenstein, which itself drew from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The film stars Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz.

Set in 1930s Chicago, The Bride! reimagines the Frankenstein myth through a modern social and political lens. The story begins when Frankenstein’s monster seeks companionship and turns to Dr. Euphronius, a radical thinker operating on the fringes of accepted science. Together, they revive a murdered woman, bringing her back to life as “the Bride.” Her creation, however, does not remain a private scientific experiment; it triggers emotional upheaval, public fascination, and scrutiny from law enforcement.

As the Bride navigates her new existence, the film explores themes of identity, autonomy, and desire against the backdrop of a city shaped by crime, industrial power, and social unrest. Her presence challenges traditional ideas of morality and humanity, while also igniting unexpected romance and fear. The narrative expands beyond personal transformation to examine how a single act of defiance against nature can ripple outward, influencing political movements and unsettling rigid social hierarchies.

The film blends gothic horror with crime drama and musical elements, featuring stylized dance sequences that reflect inner turmoil and societal pressure. Shot entirely with IMAX-certified digital cameras, The Bride! emphasizes scale, atmosphere, and period detail. The visual approach underscores both intimacy and spectacle, while the score by Hildur Guðnadóttir reinforces the film’s haunting, emotionally charged tone.

Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, The Bride! marks Maggie Gyllenhaal’s second feature as a writer-director, continuing her focus on psychologically complex characters and morally ambiguous worlds. The film stands as a reinterpretation rather than a remake, using classic mythology to comment on power, gender, and social transformation in early 20th-century America.