Maggie Gyllenhaal builds her own kind of monster with the ultra-alive ‘The Bride!’

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The film immediately grabs your attention with its energetic title, “The Bride!” It’s a bold and imaginative remake of the 1935 classic “Bride of Frankenstein,” constantly adding surprising twists and turns as it explores themes of finding yourself and taking control of your own life.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, the writer and director, admits she’s not entirely sure why she used that particular punctuation mark. She says she initially added it almost as a challenge, expecting someone to point it out, but surprisingly, no one ever did.

This movie unfolds in a fantastical 1930s world, blending steampunk and art deco styles – think of a “Bonnie and Clyde” reimagining. Jessie Buckley delivers a captivating performance, playing three different characters, sometimes even interacting with each other. We meet Ida, a lively Chicago socialite who falls victim to powerful people, and Mary Shelley, the author of “Frankenstein,” who mysteriously inhabits another person’s body and voice.

And then there’s the Bride – Ida, a woman brought back to life as a companion to a being called Frank (Christian Bale). Together, they embark on a wild, nationwide crime spree, quickly becoming notorious.

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We asked the film crew which upcoming movies they were most excited about in 2026. They expressed enthusiasm for projects from returning favorites like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Greta Gerwig, and a new Wile E. Coyote film.

On a February morning in Los Angeles, Maggie Gyllenhaal quickly walked through the hotel lobby. She requested we move our interview from a quiet indoor table to the outdoor patio, hoping to enjoy some California sunshine before heading back to her home in cold, wintry Brooklyn.

Gyllenhaal’s style is relaxed yet polished – she looks confident and sure of her vision. She isn’t afraid to embrace complexity and challenge herself and those she works with.

Consider the exclamation point. What initially appears as a small, almost insignificant detail – even actor Jake Gyllenhaal plays it that way at first – actually carries a surprising amount of weight and meaning.

Jake Gyllenhaal explains it wasn’t about recklessness. He compares it to the experience of women like Ida or Mary Shelley, who were often discouraged from speaking their minds. He says when someone has been suppressed for a long time, their eventual expression is like a geyser erupting – full of intense energy. He believes that’s where a powerful, emphatic delivery comes from.

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s new film, “The Bride,” marks her second time writing and directing a feature film, following 2021’s “The Lost Daughter.” “The Lost Daughter” was highly praised and earned award nominations, including Oscars for its stars, Buckley and Olivia Colman, and for Gyllenhaal’s adapted screenplay (based on Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel). Before becoming a director, Gyllenhaal was known as an actress who fearlessly took on challenging roles in films like “Secretary,” “The Dark Knight,” and “Crazy Heart,” for which she received an Oscar nomination.

It was challenging for Maggie Gyllenhaal to choose her next project after “The Lost Daughter.” She found inspiration at a party when she noticed a tattoo of Elsa Lancaster’s striking look from “Bride of Frankenstein.” Intrigued, Gyllenhaal watched the film and was surprised by how briefly Lancaster’s character appeared. This led her to read Mary Shelley’s original “Frankenstein” novel, and she began to consider what else might have been influencing Shelley when she wrote it.

She leaned in, as if sharing a secret. “I was just imagining,” she said, “that Mary Shelley probably had even bolder and more daring ideas than what actually made it into ‘Frankenstein.’ I wonder what else she wanted to explore and express?”

Gyllenhaal began writing the script with Jessie Buckley, her star from “The Lost Daughter,” in mind for the main role, although she didn’t tell Buckley this at first. A key challenge for Gyllenhaal while directing the film was learning how to communicate with each actor in a way that would bring out their best performance.

Gyllenhaal explained that he and Jessie connected easily because he spoke to her as he would to himself – without having to change how he communicated.

Reached via email, the “Hamnet” star evokes a Frida Kahlo painting to convey their closeness.

Buckley describes a deep connection with Maggie, saying they’ve helped each other grow and understand themselves better. They share a natural way of communicating and a similar thirst for knowledge.

Both filmmakers were thrilled to go from the small, personal story of “The Lost Daughter” to the larger, more ambitious project of “The Bride!”

Buckley enjoyed seeing the actress take on a more challenging role. After her performance in ‘The Lost Daughter,’ it was evident that Maggie Gyllenhaal had a unique artistic vision. Buckley was intrigued by the idea of pushing boundaries and exploring difficult themes: Where do artists develop and take risks? What truly frightens us? What are the private thoughts we keep to ourselves? And what happens when we share those vulnerable thoughts with the world?

Jake Gyllenhaal’s latest movie doesn’t shy away from being over-the-top. A lavish party scene unexpectedly bursts into a musical number, with Christian Bale’s character performing “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” This is a playful nod to the self-aware humor of Mel Brooks’ classic 1974 film, “Young Frankenstein.”

Gyllenhaal explains, ‘I was constantly trying to find the right balance – avoiding being too intense.’ He adds that women are often told they’re ‘too much’ from a very young age, and he’s become accustomed to that criticism.

I think that scene really captures a sense of vibrant, unrestrained humanity. The movie is largely about people who feel like they don’t belong, and in that moment, they’re celebrating everything that makes them unique – even the parts of themselves they might normally hide. It’s a celebration of being fully, unapologetically themselves – a true ‘monster mash’ of individuality: ‘This is me.’

Reimagining a well-known story in a unique and unconventional way wasn’t easy. Originally, Warner Bros. planned to release “The Bride!” last fall, but that date was later given to a different film, “One Battle After Another.” When the release date was moved to March 2026, rumors surfaced – which Gyllenhaal jokingly cautions against believing – of disagreements between the director and the studio.

Gyllenhaal acknowledges she collaborated closely with Warner Bros. executives Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca to finalize the film. She explains that, unlike her previous film ‘The Lost Daughter’ where she had more creative independence, this project required a more collaborative approach due to its higher stakes.

I wondered if audiences would connect with a complex, emotionally intense film, as long as I was truly honest in my exploration of the themes. That was my main concern. Then, I edited the movie to reflect my personal vision. But Pam, who was a key collaborator and became a friend, challenged me. She pointed out that if I wanted a wider audience to understand and appreciate the film, I needed to make certain parts clearer.

Gyllenhaal acknowledges they had some disagreements with Abdy, and that Abdy had a different vision for the film. However, she now believes those challenges ultimately benefited the movie. “A really vibrant and exciting film came out of it, and I think it’s better because of the work we did together,” Gyllenhaal explains. She admits this perspective is unusual, especially when many filmmakers feel the studio compromised their vision. “That wasn’t my experience at all.”

Abdy explained in a phone call that they challenge each other to create the best possible film for viewers. He said everyone involved – the studio, directors, and filmmakers – goes through a complex process, and it’s a shame when outsiders pretend to understand what happens behind the scenes. He emphasized that those outside the process simply don’t know the full story.

Abdy says their working relationship was positive and straightforward. “You screen the film, gather feedback, and then make changes,” she explains. “And we really needed the time and freedom to do that properly.”

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s boldness as an actress is now clearly influencing her work as a director. Before focusing on filmmaking, she gave a memorable performance in the 2018 film “The Kindergarten Teacher,” playing a teacher intensely involved with a gifted young poet. She also spent three seasons on the HBO series “The Deuce” (2017-2019), portraying an adult film actress trying to transition into a directing role.

When asked about returning to acting, Maggie Gyllenhaal stated she wasn’t sure, explaining that she enjoys directing more and finds it a better fit for her.

Honestly, as an actress, I always felt limited in how much I could truly express myself. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to protect my ability to create, even if it meant needing a little personal space to do my work.

Once I started writing and directing, I didn’t have to worry about navigating those kinds of difficult social dynamics anymore. More importantly, I could build a work environment where no one had to. I wanted to give everyone the freedom to explore their ideas and express themselves, and then I could choose what felt right for the project. It just made sense to let people be creative and see what they came up with.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s upcoming film, “The Bride!”, could become popular alongside other recent gothic romances like Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.” A memorable phrase from the movie, “brain attack,” inspires women nationwide to copy the Bride’s unique style – a look that blends the glamour of Jean Harlow with the edgy vibe of Courtney Love, complete with a dramatic smudge of makeup.

There is something intuitively catchy about brain attack, even if it’s also a little bewildering.

Gyllenhaal recalls feeling genuinely frightened when taking on a larger, more high-profile film project. He explains that this fear often accompanies challenges that force you to develop and learn. He was particularly fascinated by the physical and mental sensations of intense fear – like heart attacks or panic attacks – and even explored the idea of simulating those experiences to prepare for the role, believing that understanding them required delving into those extreme states.

Gyllenhaal shared a story about wearing a hat with a particular phrase on it while relaxing by a hotel pool. She said three young women approached her, seeming a bit tipsy, and started asking about it. Two of them were confused by the phrase and couldn’t quite understand what it meant, but the third one immediately understood. Gyllenhaal ended up giving the hat to her.

Gyllenhaal suggests the term ‘brain attack’ is something you have to experience to truly understand, and she says this with a smile.

I have a feeling Maggie Gyllenhaal’s take on “The Bride!” – and it is a bold take, full of wild freedom and a woman taking back her power – will really resonate with certain viewers. It’s not a film for everyone, but I predict it’ll become something special for those who find it at the right moment. It feels like a movie waiting to be discovered by the people who truly need it.

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2026-03-02 10:02