39/22
Set in 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein asks Dr. Euphronius to help him create a mate. They bring a murdered woman back to life as a bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical societal change. In January 2024, while hosting the Governors Awards (the honorary/lifetime achievement awards given by the same Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that gives out the Oscars), comedian John Mulaney jokingly told a story about being asked to audition for a small role in this film: “Ladies and gentlemen, you look at me and think, ‘Oh, great. Another damn stand-up comedian here mocking us at our sacred rituals.’ Well, I’ll do it for you.” I want to know that I’m not that weird. I’m pretty in demand in the film world. I want to show you a real email that I got from my agents about thirty days ago. This is a real email that they sent me on December 7th [2023] so you have an idea of who you’re dealing with. “John, in anticipation of our conversation, you’ll find attached the untitled Maggie Gyllenhaal project written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.’ That makes sense. Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Osnat Handelsman[-Keren] and Talia Kleinhendler will produce for Warner Brothers. Christian Bale is in talks to star alongside Jessie Buckley.’ I know who one of those people is. ‘No scripts are available at this time.’ Okay, I listen. “Your response to the material is pending. Use the attached pages to tape yourself to Young Cop’s paper. Come on, thanks. They actually sent me that. To be clear, WME [William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Agency] sent it to me. They’re not offering me ‘Young Cop.’ They’re giving me the opportunity to throw my hat in the ring. And yes, I taped myself, and no, I didn’t succeed, but… Let’s stop focusing on failure, OK? Enough of the failures. There are only winners tonight.”