It’s not official, but the internets are all atwitter about Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) signing on to play the assistant Igor in Frankenstein to be directed by Paul McGuigan. When I think back to Frankenstein movies and Igor’s presence, I mostly think of Young Frankenstein, but it’s a role that Paul McGuigan and writer Max Landis are taking seriously.

In an interview with Ain’t It Cool, Max Landis talked about Igor, a character who wasn’t present in the original story written by Mary Shelley, but has been added to the tale over the years since.

Instead of trying to do some high minded “revisionist” Frankenstein, why not try to stay true to a version that only lives in the zeitgeist, and has NEVER REALLY EXISTED.

And why not do it in an intelligent, hopefully, thoughtful way, about friendship and science, genius and madness, love and ambition, life and death?

Why not use that imaginary, fairy dust framework of “guy with hunchbacked assistant makes monster” and make it fun, sad, scary and hopefully, I really hope this, moving.

Now, just so you know. This is one of those projects that could easily be confused with other projects that are around and similar. Frankenstein, is not to be confused with I, Frankenstein which is a modern day look at what’s happening to Frankenstein’s monster in the present day. You can read more about I, Frankenstein here.

The other project not to confuse Frankenstein with is the television pilot Gothica which is currently being cast. That is a multi-mythological collaboration that centers around journalist Grace Van Helsing and will feature Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray.

Hope that clears things up a little bit.

We will keep you posted on Paul McGuigan’s Frankenstein.