James Cameron Urged Guillermo del Toro to Cut Key Frankenstein Scene

Guillermo del Toro has opened up about a tough call he made while working on his long-awaited Frankenstein adaptation. The acclaimed director revealed that he relies on a close-knit group of mates—some of the brightest minds in the business—to give honest feedback on his projects. Among this trusted circle are Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro Iñárritu, Rian Johnson, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron.

Del Toro explained,

“What I do – because we don't test the films – I show it to the 14, 16 most brilliant friends I know, and I'm blessed with good friendships,”

he said while chatting on the red carpet at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. When pressed about who gets a sneak peek, he listed off his impressive line-up of creative confidants.

He went on to describe the process:

“A lot of people see the film, they tell me what they think, and we have the agreement to be brutal. Jim [Cameron] came in and he said, 'Look, there's this section' – which is not in the film anymore – 'This is beautiful, but you gotta take it out. And it was about seven minutes… When someone gives me a note that is in that circle, I do it. I don't argue.”

Trusted Advice and Tough Decisions

Del Toro didn’t hesitate to act on Cameron’s advice, even though the scene in question was one he considered particularly striking. The director’s willingness to listen to his mates, especially when it comes to making hard edits, speaks to the level of trust and respect within his creative circle. For del Toro, the feedback from these industry heavyweights is invaluable, and he’s not one to second-guess their judgement.

The seven-minute sequence, now left on the cutting room floor, was described as “beautiful” by Cameron, but ultimately didn’t make the final cut. Del Toro’s approach is straightforward: if someone in his inner circle reckons a change is needed, he’s happy to oblige, no questions asked.

Frankenstein: A Passion Project Years in the Making

Frankenstein has been a labour of love for del Toro, who’s been keen to bring his vision to life for nearly twenty years. The film stars Oscar Isaac as the infamous scientist, with Jacob Elordi taking on the role of the Creature. The project has been a long time coming, and del Toro’s dedication to the story is clear.

Jacob Elordi, who plays the Creature, shared his thoughts on the film’s direction last year, saying,

“It definitely highlights the personal over the scientific. To me, it's a biography of Guillermo's.”

This take suggests the film leans more into the emotional and personal aspects of the story, rather than just the science behind the creation.

What’s Next for Cameron and Where to Watch Frankenstein

While del Toro was busy fine-tuning Frankenstein, James Cameron had his own much-hyped project hitting cinemas. Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron’s latest sci-fi epic, landed in theatres last month. The story follows the Sully family as they face off against a new threat, the Mangkwan, led by the formidable Varang, who’s teamed up with Jake’s old foe, Colonel Miles Quaritch.

For those keen to catch Frankenstein, the film is now streaming on Netflix. If you’re after more top picks, there’s a handy guide to the best films on Netflix in 2026 for punters looking to line up their next watch.