Lisa Frankenstein image previews Zelda Williams, Diablo Cody “building a man” horror comedy

The horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein, which marks the feature directorial debut of Zelda Williams and was scripted by Diablo Cody, is set to receive a theatrical release on February 9, 2024, just in time for Valentine’s Day – and in anticipation of that release, Empire has unveiled a new image from the film! You can check it out at the bottom of this article.

Set in 1989, the film has the following synopsis: A coming of RAGE love story from acclaimed writer Diablo Cody about a misunderstood teenager and her high school crush, who happens to be a handsome corpse. After a set of playfully horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness… and a few missing body parts along the way.

Kathryn Newton (Freaky) and Cole Sprouse (Riverdale) star alongside Carla Gugino (Gerald’s Game), Liza Soberano (Alone/Together), Joe Chrest (Stranger Things), and Henry Eikenberry (The Crowded Room). Newton is playing Lisa Frankenstein, Sprouse is the handsome Victorian corpse, and Chrest will be playing Lisa’s father Dale. Details on other characters have not been revealed.

Cody told Empire, “It was funny to me how the whole Frankenstein narrative was co-opted in the ‘80s by movies like Weird Science where they were like, ‘What if we could create the perfect woman?’ You see that theme across genres, and I felt like nobody was making a ‘building a man’ movie except The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which I love, and which we reference in the film. … I thought: ‘What if a teenage girl had the ultimate sensitive guy who can’t talk? What would that look like and how would we animate him?’ Then once I thought of [a faulty] tanning bed, we were off to the races.“

Cody produced Lisa Frankenstein with Mason Novick. A press release notes that they have previously collaborated on films including Tully, Young Adult, Jennifer’s Body, and Juno, which earned Cody an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Jeff Lampert serves as executive producer, while Focus Features’ Vice President of Production and Development, Michelle Momplaisir, was the creative executive on the project. Focus Features will distribute the film in the United States, and Universal Pictures International is the international distributor. Filming took place in New Orleans.

Williams previously directed a horror comedy short called Kappa Kappa Die (which was scripted by Piranha 3D and Saw X writers Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg).

I’m a big fan of the Cody-scripted 2009 horror comedy Jennifer’s Body (which was directed by Karyn Kusama), so I’m really looking forward to Lisa Frankenstein. Are you looking forward to this one? Let us know by leaving a comment below – and take a look at this image while you’re scrolling down: