The monster has found his match. Warner Bros. has unveiled the first trailer for Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!, a bold reimagining of the classic Bride of Frankenstein story, starring Christian Bale as the infamous creature and Jessie Buckley as his newly resurrected bride. With that being said, the film is set to storm into theaters on March 6th, 2026.
A New Twist On An Old Legend
Written and directed by Gyllenhaal, The Bride! takes audiences to 1930s Chicago, where Bale’s lonely Frankenstein monster searches for a companion. With the help of Dr. Euphronious played by Annette Bening, he brings a murdered young woman back to life, sparking a tale of murder, possession, and combustible romance.
The film’s star-studded ensemble also includes Peter Sarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz, raising the stakes for what could be one of the year’s most daring gothic dramas.
Step Inside The Trailer
The trailer sets a haunting tone, opening with Bale’s Frankenstein assuring Buckley’s Bride that everything done to bring her back was intentional. What follows is a slew of dreams and images. Including torches, pursuit, and intimate moments between two beings defying death itself. In its final moments, Buckley’s character asks, “What is my name?”. Hinting at a deeper journey of self-discovery and identity.
Visually, the trailer promises a highly stylized, operatic take on the monster mythos. Gyllenhaal appears to be leaning into bold production design and unsettling romance, distinguishing her film from Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein, which will arrive just months earlier.
A Rocky Road To Release
The Bride! was originally slated for an October 3rd, 2025 release, but lukewarm early reactions pushed Warner Bros. to delay the film. The move also strategically avoided a box office clash with del Toro’s Frankenstein slated for October 17th, which will hit Netflix weeks later. Still, the CinemaCon footage that screened in April signaled the studio’s confidence in Gyllenhaal’s vision.
For Gyllenhaal, who earned critical acclaim with her directorial debut The Lost Daughter, this film is a leap into uncharted waters. Trading in intimate family drama for gothic horror and romance, she’s staking her place as a filmmaker unafraid to take risks. With Bale and Buckley leading the way, the film is loaded with talent capable of elevating its audacious premise. Nonetheless, the trailer has undeniably cemented it as one of 2026’s most intriguing releases.