Sebastian Stan already has several intriguing upcoming projects on the horizon, including Christian Tafdrup‘s “Let The Evil Go West,” Justin Kurzel‘s “Burning Rainbow Farm,” and “Fjord,” from fellow Romanian Christian Franju. But the actor’s latest casting may be the buzziest of them all: a new take on “Frankenstein” from another fellow countryman, Radu Jude.
CulturalDuba.ro reports that Jude’s next project will star Stan, but it’s unclear when the Romanian director will make it. “I had the idea to develop a story that would begin with the reality of CIA black sites on Romanian soil from 20 years ago, and then merge that with another cinematic myth—the Frankenstein monster,” Jude told the outlet. “I pitched it to Sebastian, and he said yes. So I’ve started writing the script, but it’ll take some time.”
Jude likely won’t start work on his “Frankenstein” until after his next film, “Dracula,” premieres at the Locarno Film Festival this weekend. Yes, Jude also made a “Dracula” adaptation, and it’s the second film for the European provocateur this year after “Kontinental ’25,” which won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlinale in February. And given the director’s rapid work rate, shooting on smartphones with little to no budget at all, it’s safe to expect his film with Stan should hit the festival circuit sometime in 2026.
Jude has been on a tear this decade after his first Silver Bear win for his 2015 film “Aferim!” A Golden Bear victory for 2021’s “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn” brought the Romanian auteur international renown that exploded even more after 2023’s “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World” got endorsements from Martin Scorsese and others. He’s an acquired taste, but a singular and urgent voice in contemporary cinema. Working with Stan could up his cultural cache in the US significantly.
As for Stan, a team-up with Jude continues the actor’s foray into more adventurous roles. Sure, he starred in “Thunderbolts*” and “Captain America: Brave New World” this year, but his Bucky Barnes reprises pale in comparison to other recent work like “Fresh,” “The Apprentice,” and “A Different Man.” Stan received awards season nods for the latter two roles, and it wouldn’t be a surprise for films like “Fjord” and Kurzel and Tafdrup’s next projects to garner him the same. Also on the way for Stan? “Ruins” with Vanessa Kirby, a sexy Mediterranean thriller based on a new book that arrives on shelves next week.
Stay tuned for more details on Radu Jude’s “Frankenstein,” which will be nothing like Guillermo del Toro‘s upcoming adaptation over at Netflix, and definitely more interesting.
