Del Toro is scheduled to direct three films for Universal: Frankenstein; a new a

daptation of Slaughterhouse-Five; and Drood, a film based on a Dan Simmons novel

published in February 2009.[36] Drood was expected to be his first project afte
r the two films set in Middle-earth. These projects would have filled up his sch
edule until 2017.[37] Part of the Universal deal entails continuing research and
development for the creatures in At the Mountains of Madness.[38] In June 2009,
Del Toro said he would only direct Frankenstein.[39] Del Toro is also in the ea
rly stages of development of Saturn and the End of Days.[40]
Del Toro said his Frankenstein would be a faithful "Miltonian tragedy", citing F
rank Darabont's "near perfect" script, which evolved into Kenneth Branagh's Fran
kenstein.[41] Del Toro said of his vision, "What I'm trying to do is take the my
th and do something with it, but combining elements of Frankenstein and Bride of
Frankenstein without making it just a classical myth of the monster. The best m
oments in my mind of Frankenstein, of the novel, are yet to be filmed [...] The
only guy that has ever nailed for me the emptiness, not the tragic, not the Milt
onian dimension of the monster, but the emptiness is Christopher Lee in the Hamm
er films, where he really looks like something obscenely alive. Boris Karloff ha
s the tragedy element nailed down but there are so many versions, including that
great screenplay by Frank Darabont that was ultimately not really filmed."[42]
He has also cited Bernie Wrightson's illustrations as inspiration, and said the
film will not focus on the monster's creation, but be an adventure film featurin
g the character.[43] Del Toro said he would like Wrightson to design his version
of the creature. The film will also focus on the religious aspects of Shelley's
tale.[44] In June 2009, del Toro stated that production on Frankenstein was not
likely to begin for at least four years.[45] Despite this, he has already cast
frequent collaborator Doug Jones in the role of Frankenstein's monster. In an in
terview with Sci Fi Wire, Jones stated that he learned of the news the same day
as everybody else; that "Guillermo did say to the press that he s already cast me
as his monster, but we ve yet to talk about it. But in his mind, if that s what he s d
ecided, then it's done ... It would be a dream come true."[46] The film will be
a period piece.[47]
In 2008, del Toro announced a dark stop-motion film based on the Italian novel T
he Adventures of Pinocchio, co-directed by Adam Parrish King, with Jim Henson Co
mpany as production company, and music by Nick Cave.[48] It was in production fo
r three years, and is now in development hell. The pre-production was begun by t
he studio ShadowMachine. In 2017, del Toro announced that Patrick McHale is co-w
riting the script of the movie.[49]
On December 1, 2008, del Toro also expressed interest in make, collaborating wit
h Alfonso Cuarn, a stop-motion remake to Roald Dahl's novel The Witches.[50]
In June 2010, news came that del Toro would be writing and producing a brand new
take on the story of Van Helsing. There is no word yet on if he will direct or
not.[51]
At Comic-Con 2010, del Toro made the surprise announcement that he would co-writ
e, produce, and likely direct a 3D Haunted Mansion film for Disney. Del Toro say
s the film will stray away from the comedic nature of the 2003 film and will rev
olve around the ride's Hatbox Ghost.[52]
On July 28, 2010, it was announced that he would direct At the Mountains of Madn
ess by H. P. Lovecraft for Universal Pictures, with James Cameron as producer. T
he movie was originally set up as a project at DreamWorks in 2004.[53] Just a mo
nth earlier, del Toro said that the Lovecraft adaptation probably wouldn't happe
n at all; "It doesn't look like I can do it. It's very difficult for the studios
to take the step of doing a period-set, R-rated, tentpole movie with a tough en
ding and no love story. Lovecraft has a readership as big as any best-seller, bu
t it's tough to quantify because his works are in the public domain." Not long a
fter, he was approached by Cameron who asked him if he still wanted to do the mo
vie. When del Toro confirmed he did, Cameron said "Let s do it." Both of them put
forward the idea for Universal, which then greenlit it.[54] Earlier the same yea
r, del Toro also asked S. T. Joshi if he wanted to be a consultant if and when t
he movie got into motion.[55]

At the Legendary Comics panel at the 2012 New York Comic Con. Left to right: emc
ee Chris Hardwick, Bob Schreck, Matt Wagner, Grant Morrison, del Toro and Travis
Beacham.
Del Toro is also attached to produce the film adaptation of David Moody's novel
Hater.[56]
Del Toro has expressed interest in video games, and hopes to create a "Citizen K
ane of games."[57] In an MTV News interview in late July 2010, he clarified his
ambitions, stating that: "One of the things we're announcing in the next few wee
ks is a big deal with a big company. We're going to do games that are going to b
e technically and narratively very interesting. It's not a development deal. We'
re going to do it. We're doing them. And we're going to announce it soon enough.
"[58] At the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards, del Toro announced that he was workin
g on a video game titled Insane, which was planned for release in 2013.[59] On A
ugust 6, 2012, it was announced that the project was cancelled,[60] although in
November 2012 del Toro said that the game was still in development, with a devel
oper and publisher that are currently unknown.[61]
On September 21, 2010, del Toro announced that he wanted to direct new adaptatio
ns of the Stephen King novels It and Pet Sematary, but stated that he is very bu
sy and unlikely to be able to make the films any time soon.[62] Furthermore, the
new adaptation of It in 2017 makes it unlikely that del Toro will continue to p
ursue that project.
On August 18, 2011 it was announced del Toro is going to be developing a new fil
m version of Beauty and the Beast, with Emma Watson in mind to star. Crazy, Stup
id, Love producer Denise Di Novi confirmed the filmmaker s involvement, and said t
hat she would be co-producing the movie with him.[63]
With Daniel Kraus, del Toro has written the upcoming book Trollhunters.[64][65]
On January 15, 2013 del Toro confirmed that a film based around supernatural cha
racters from DC Comics was being written.[66] While Warner Brothers is still con
sidering green lighting the film, del Toro stated that the working title is Dark
Universe and will include characters such as John Constantine, Swamp Thing, The
Spectre, and others. In November 2014, del Toro confirmed that the script was c
omplete and handed it in to Warner Bros. to be reviewed.[67] In December 2014, T
oro revealed that the film would be a part of the DC Extended Universe.[68]
On April 24, 2013, it was announced that del Toro is currently collaborating wit
h HBO to create a live-action pilot based on the Naoki Urasawa manga series Mons
ter.[69] Del Toro will also produce the thriller Midnight Delivery for Universal
; Brian Kirk will direct the film.[70] In July 2013 Kevin Costner was in talks t
o star in the film.[71]
Shortly after Cronos, del Toro wrote an adaptation of the novel Spanky by Christ
opher Fowler, called Mephisto's Bridge.
In 2014, del Toro announced a Pacific Rim sequel and an animated series for 2017
.[72]
On August 12, 2014, it was revealed that del Toro was set to collaborate with ac
claimed game director Hideo Kojima on the PlayStation 4 video game Silent Hills.
[73] However, in April 2015, del Toro announced that he would no longer be colla
borating with Kojima, as the project was canceled.[74][75] Three months later, d
el Toro announced via Twitter that the two were still working on a project toget
her, though it is not Silent Hills.[76] In an interview with Shacknews, Del Toro
expressed that he would never again get involved in video games after his past
experiences, which he quotes;
"I have proven to be the albatross of video games. I joined THQ, and THQ goes br
oke. I join Kojima, and Kojima leaves Konami, because Metal Gear. I have decided
, in order not to destroy anyone else s life, I have decided I will never again ge
t involved in video games. Otherwise, I ll join someone and his house will explode
, or something".[77]
However, in a teaser to Kojima's new project Death Stranding released at The Gam
e Awards 2016 ceremony, a character bearing del Toro's likeness is featured, mea
ning the collaboration between the two is still intact.[78]