ICYMI, big things are in store for Liza Soberano this 2024. The actress is set to make her Hollywood debut in the upcoming horror comedy film Lisa Frankenstein. Written by Diablo Cody (who also wrote the screenplay for Juno and Jennifer's Body), it is also director the feature-length debut of Zelda Williams (the daughter of the late Robin Williams).
The trailer dropped and we're already excited for more. While (impatiently) waiting for the movie to be released, here's what you need to know about the quirky project.
READ: Everything You Need To Know About Lisa Frankenstein
What is plot of Lisa Frankenstein?
Taffy (Liza Soberano) is a popular highschool cheerleader with a group of friends. She's well-liked by the community and seems to have her life put together. You know who doesn't have it all? Her stepsister Lisa (Kathryn Newton). Thought of as "odd" or "goth," Lisa prefers intellectual pursuits, and spends her time tending to the grave of an unmarried man who died in 1837.
Their mundane lives change when Lisa unwittingly brings The Creature (Cole Sprouse) back to life—and his reanimated corpse appears at her doorstep. Will she be able to transform him into the man of her dreams, or is Lisa destined to die as a NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth)? "I could get the clink for life or the electric chair, but I don't wanna die a virgin." LOL!
Who are the cast of Lisa Frankenstein?
Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows
Kathryn Newton plays the titular role of 17-year-old Lisa Swallows. Having recently gone through a traumatic experience, she's had to move towns and change schools after her father remarried. Being the "new kid" is difficult enough without people thinking you're weird, so rather than deal with snide remarks she finds solace in the abandoned cemetery near her house.
One of the biggest influences for her portrayal of Lisa was Gene Wilder's performance in Young Frankenstein (1974). "Gene Wilder was an incredible actor who was able to master that in-between of playing a character that’s so over-the-top, but still grounded and pulling the audience in," Kathryn stated.
Liza Soberano as Taffy
Liza Soberano portrays Lisa's unwaveringly supportive and perky stepsister, Taffy. Based on the trailer, she's been encouraging Lisa to step out of her shell and meet a boy. Based on her Possums cheerleading uniform and "basketball bod or football bod" question, Taffy might seem like the stereotypical popular highschooler—but is there more to her than meets the eye?
"She’s a beacon of positivity, and even when she’s unwittingly condescending or tone deaf, her intentions are always kind. She’s more protective of Lisa than anyone else in the film, other than the Creature," Diablo Cody acknowledged. "Lisa resents Taffy because she’s effortlessly beautiful and popular, but Lisa eventually comes to realize that her ire is misdirected. I felt that having Taffy be a standard 'mean popular girl' would be uninteresting. Most of the queen bees I’ve known were more complex than that."
Describing Taffy as "such a fun character to play," Liza shared that she "had an instant connection with her." Fun fact: the Oscar-winning screenwriter said Liza's character Taffy is her favorite in the film!
Cole Sprouse as The Creature
We're used to seeing Cole Sprouse as the witty and sarcastic character (whether as Cody Martin in The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Jughead in Riverdale, or Will Newman in Five Feet Apart). So having him portray a mute reanimated creature (under layers of prosthetic makeup) communicating primarily through grunts and gestures will be an interesting experience.
"His inability to speak was what really excited me, just technically, and I knew it would be a heavy physical role," Cole revealed. "For me, it was an attempt to reach some more universal physical language about how we perceive emotions through gesture, through movement, which was fun."
Also joining the main trio in the cast lineup are The Fall of the House of Usher's Carla Gugino (Taffy's narcissistic mom who lives in her own world), Stranger Things' Joe Chrest (Lisa's oblivious dad), and The Crowded Room's Henry Eikenberr (Lisa's crush whom she describes as an "intellectual punk dreamboat").
What are trivia from the cast and director about Lisa Frankenstein?
“The idea of using a tanning bed as the power source [to bring the dead back to life] was hilarious to me," screenwriter Diablo Cody shared. Inspired by another off-beat spin on Frankenstein mythology, the 1985 John Hughes film Weird Science, she set her own take on the story in the 1980s. "In that film, two teenage boys literally design their dream woman, animate her with electricity and watch in awe as she improves their lives. I always thought it would be fun to see a female-centered take on that story."
When is the release date of Lisa Frankenstein in the Philippines?
Described as a coming of rage story, Lisa Frankenstein is set to release in Philippine cinemas on Wednesday, February 7, a full week before Valentine's Day.
