FILM · 2015 · UK
Victor Frankenstein
23 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (23)
- #001
The mispronunciation of Frankenstein's name as "Frankenschtein" is a reference to a line in Young Frankenstein (1974).
- #002
Rather than wearing a wig or growing out his hair, which would have taken too long, Daniel Radcliffe wore hair extensions for the role of Igor. Because of this choice, he had to put up with their appearance throughout the shoot and wear them as if they were his own hair.
- #003
Despite its title, the twist this film brings to the classic story is that it is told from the perspective of Igor, Victor Frankenstein's assistant. However, Igor does not appear in Mary Shelley's original novel "Frankenstein"; the hunchbacked assistant first appeared in the book's first stage adaptation in 1823 and was given the name "Fritz," an element carried over into the classic film adaptation Frankenstein (1931). Over time the character was merged with a deformed criminal named Igor from several Frankenstein sequels. Lorelei is a unique character; the novel and most adaptations feature an Elizabeth, but she is usually Victor's love rather than Igor's.
- #004
In the scene where Dr. Frankenstein drains the abscess on the hunchback's back, it was initially supposed to be done with a large syringe. However, James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, together with the director, came up with the idea of Frankenstein sucking the fluid out through a tube.
- #005
Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire was used as the clifftop castle location. Along with Slains Castle, it was visited by Bram Stoker in August 1894 and is thought to have inspired the castle of Dracula, the other great creature.
- #006
The creature in this film is named Prometheus. The full title of Mary Shelley's original novel was 'Frankenstein: Modern Prometheus,' inspired by the Greek myth of the Titan Prometheus, who created humankind from clay. The epithet should therefore be applied to Victor Frankenstein, not the creature. This is similar to the creature often being called "Frankenstein," whereas "Frankenstein's monster" is the more accurate term.
- #007
It was shot from November 2013 to March 2014, but was not publicly screened until its release in late November 2015.
- #008
Victor decides to give the creature a "flat head," a reference to Boris Karloff's famous 1931 portrayal.
- #009
Victor Frankenstein is revealed to have an older brother named Henry. In Mary Shelley's original Frankenstein novel, Victor had a younger brother named William. In Frankenstein (1931), the main character, played by Colin Clive, was named "Henry Frankenstein," while his closest friend Henry Clerval was renamed "Victor Moritz."
- #010
Spencer Wilding is known to have played two roles in Victor Frankenstein: the Eastern European dictator at the circus at the beginning of the film, and the monster Prometheus.
- #011
At the party, Victor suddenly climbs the stairs to stand beside Igor. Igor is then surprised and starts to say something, then stops. This is a reference to Young Frankenstein.
- #012
Four actors from Sherlock (2010) appear in this film: Andrew Scott (Moriarty), Mark Gatiss (Mycroft Holmes), Louise Brealey (Molly Hooper) and Alistair Petrie (Major James Sholto). Director Paul McGuigan also directed four episodes of the series.
- #013
Andrew Scott's character, Inspector Turpin, ends up with a wooden hand and an eyepatch resembling Kenneth Mars's character Inspector Kemp in Young Frankenstein (1974), which is fitting since both characters are determined to stop Frankenstein's reanimation attempt.
- #014
Among a number of film references, you can also spot the scene in which the homunculus Gordon is reanimated, echoing "it's alive" from the 1931 Frankenstein. The moment also seems to reference the famous "Gordon's alive!" movie quote from Flash Gordon (1980).
- #015
One of the characters in this new version of the story is named "Dr. Clive." In Frankenstein (1931), Dr. Frankenstein was played by Colin Clive.
- #016
Mark Gatiss, Andrew Scott, Alistair Petrie and Louise Brealey likewise appear together in the series Sherlock (2010), which is also based on classic Victorian literature. Sherlock's (2010) star Benedict Cumberbatch played both Victor Frankenstein and his creature in Danny Boyle's 2011 National Theatre production of 'Frankenstein,' alternating the roles each night with Jonny Lee Miller, who also played Holmes in his own show Elementary (2012).
- #017
Charles Dance was set to play Victor Frankenstein's father again in the otherwise unrelated adaptation Frankenstein (2025).
- #018
The laboratory assistant Igor (originally written as Ygor) was invented for the 1931 film version starring Boris Karloff as the creature, in which his name was Fritz. Later sequels changed the spelling of his name.
- #019
Shawn Levy was initially going to direct but stepped back.
- #020
James McAvoy played Alec Newman's son in Children of Dune (2003). Newman also played Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein (2004).
- #021
Andrew Scott plays an inspector in this film, while in the popular series Sherlock he plays a criminal pursued by an inspector.
- #022
Charles Dance played Frankenstein in this film. In Dracula Untold (2014), he played the master vampire.
- #023
Jessica Brown Findlay and Freddie Fox appeared together in The Riot Club (2014).
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