Mary’s Monster: Clara Rugaard, Kit Harington cast as Mary Shelley and The Monster

Earlier this year, we shared the news that Farren Blackburn (A Discovery of Witches) had signed on to direct Mary’s Monster, a film that will center on author Mary Shelley as she writes her classic novel Frankenstein. Now Deadline reports that Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) has been cast as Shelley, and Kit Harington (Eternals) is on board to play “The Monster”. Also in the cast are Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (Coda) as Mary’s husband Percy Bysshe Shelley and Sebastian de Souza (Normal People) as Lord Byron.

A period film that will have a contemporary sheen to it, Mary’s Monster has the following synopsis:

Mary is seduced by her own inner monster catapulting her into a dangerous, destructive psychological romance. Realizing the monster is inextricably linked to her own mental state, her only route to salvation is in bringing him to life.

The screenplay was written by Deborah Baxtrom and Stephen Hallett. Baxtom previously wrote and directed the series Living with Frankenstein, which imagined Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and Frankenstein’s Monster living in modern day Los Angeles.

Mary’s Monster is being produced by Fulwell 73’s Leo Pearlman and Heather Greenwood, along with Rose Picture’s Rose Ganguzza, Max Born, Jake Alden-Falconer, and Damon Lane. Legion M executive produces with Fulwell 73’s Richard Kondal and Patrick Fischer.

Rugaard had this to say about the project:

I am incredibly honoured to jump on board this project and be a part of telling the story of such an influential and revolutionary woman. I’m beyond excited to be bringing this celebrated female voice to life and to further delve into the world and psyche of Mary Shelley.”

Harington added:

Mary’s Monster is a brilliantly original and fascinating script and I’m relishing the idea of depicting the unique part of The Monster. An embodiment of Mary Shelley’s psyche. I’m excited by Farren’s vision and passion for the project.”

And Blackburn provided the following statement:

Mary’s Monster is a film about female voice, mental health, gender politics and a disenfranchised youth. For me, no character in history has ever captured the zeitgeist quite like Mary Shelley and Mary’s Monster is the defining period film for the modern YA generation. As a filmmaker, I love that genre allows us to hold a magnifying glass up to these kinds of issues and look at them in the most imaginative way possible and in my opinion it doesn’t get more imaginative than Mary Shelley facing off against her own inner Monster! Films this unique and original don’t come along too often and I’m beyond excited to be at the helm.”

According to Deadline, Mary’s Monster is being described as a “high-concept, rock’n’roll take on the Romantic period”. Executive music producer Marius De Vries is curating the soundtrack and will also receive an executive producer credit on the film.

This could turn out to be interesting. How does Mary’s Monster sound to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.