'The Bride!': Plot, Release Date & Everything We Know About Upcoming Maggie Gyllenhaal Movie

The sci-fi horror film The Bride!, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, will be in theaters in spring 2026. The Bride! promises to offer a fresh take on the classic Frankenstein's monster tale, with a more dynamic, violent, and bloody narrative.

Here is everything you should know about the upcoming movie.

When Will 'The Bride!' Be Released?

The Bride! was originally scheduled for release in September 2025. However, the movie had a difficult post-production period.

Consequently, the premiere was postponed by six months, and The Bride! will now be released in theaters on March 6, 2026.

What Will 'The Bride!' Be About?

The plot of The Bride! is based on James Whale's 1935 movie The Bride of Frankenstein, which is loosely based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

However, Maggie Gyllenhaal's film is not really a remake. In the original movie, the Bride barely appears – most of the plot is devoted to her creation and reanimation. Then, the Bride rejects the monster, who destroys the laboratory.

While the original film is set in the early 19th century, Gyllenhaal's movie is set in 1930s Chicago. There, the lonely Frankenstein seeks the help of Dr. Euphronius to create a companion for himself.

'The Bride!'s Teaser

In spring 2025, The Bride!'s teaser premiered at CinemaCon. It begins with the main character, played by Jessie Buckley, falling down a flight of stairs and breaking her bones.

She then finds herself on an operating table, where she is stitched up to become Frankenstein's bride. A romance eventually develops between her and the monster, which is different from the original story, in which the Bride rejected him.

Judging by the teaser, the bride will have a name in the new movie. Neither the book nor the 1935 film mentions one.

Who Is in the Cast of 'The Bride!'?

The Bride! boasts a stellar cast, but the creators haven't revealed all the roles:

• Jessie Buckley as the Bride,

• Christian Bale as Frankenstein's Monster,

• Penélope Cruz as Myrna,

• Jake Gyllenhaal in an unknown role,

• Peter Sarsgaard as a detective.

'The Bride!' Promises to Be a Bloody and Wild, R-Rated Attraction

Maggie Gyllenhaal revealed that she got the idea for the movie after seeing a man with a Bride of Frankenstein tattoo at a party. Captivated by it, Gyllenhaal decided to reimagine the classic horror film.

Furthermore, The Bride! promises to be bloody and graphic. The MPAA has given The Bride! an R rating. R-rated movies are usually made on a modest budget to offset potential losses at the box office.

Meanwhile, The Bride! had a budget of $100 million, comparable to The Martian, which had a budget of $108 million.