Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘Poor Things’ Debuts First Look Images of Frankenstein-Like Tale

Don’t let the just-debuted first-look images fool you. Expect things to get weird in Yorgos Lanthimos’ (The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dogtooth) upcoming Poor Things, a Frankenstein-like tale based on the 1992 novel by Alistair Gray.

Poor Things stars Emma Stone, who also produces, and Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbot, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe.

The film will be released only in theaters on September 8, 2023.

Lanthimos’ latest tells “the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.”

Gray’s novel has been described as funny, with the premise of a woman resurrected with the brain of her unborn child. It’s the precise type of peculiar and darkly funny that sounds perfect for the director of the uncomfortable and absurdly funny The Killing of a Sacred Deer and more twisted Dogtooth. While the first-look images present a romantic period piece, expect anything but from this filmmaker.

Poor Things has been rated “R” for “Strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language.”

Stone previously starred in Lanthimos’ ruthless period comedy The Favourite, marking a reunion between the actor, director, and screenwriter Tony McNamara (“The Great,” Cruella).

The film premieres September 8 in theaters from Searchlight. Check out the first-look photos below.