Guillermo del Toro talks Crimson Peak, calls it a “classic gothic romance”

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Guillermo del Toro is putting the finishing touches on PACIFIC RIM at the moment, but as usual, the man isn’t willing to take a break when he’s done. Next on his plate is CRIMSON PEAK, a ghost story that has been shrouded in secrecy. Del Toro has revealed a bit to Total Film about the film, including some hints about the time period and the tone. He’s also revealed (for the first time, I believe) that he’s enlisted a collaborator to help with the screenplay.

It’s the turn of the century. So it’s at the turn of the century and half of the movie takes place in America, and the other half takes place in a crumbling mansion in Cumbria. And basically it’s a ghost story and gothic romance, trying to subvert the rules of the usual gothic romance. It’s very much… the first half is a love story, then that love story turns darker. And it’s at the same time a ghost story. I’m working at this moment with Lucinda Clarkson who is a really great playwright from the UK. She has the proper degree of perversity and intelligence to turn it into something interesting to watch. It’s sort of a very compelling version of the classic gothic romance, where you have the spookiness and the windswept landscape that dooms the characters, you know?

Love the idea of del Toro doing a gothic romance, how about you?

Emma Stone (pictured below) and Charlie Hunnam will headline CRIMSON PEAK, which looks like it’ll begin production later this year.