Aaron Eckhart tells Moviefone he can’t wait to slip into the skin of one of cinema’s most famous misunderstood monsters, in his next film, ‘I, Frankenstein.’ Just don’t expect the iconic nuts-and-bolts version from the Boris Karloff films, a look that was copyrighted by Universal. What will Eckhart’s Frankenstein look like? “I really have no idea,” he says. “I just signed on without even seeing it. I don’t know what the make-up’s going to be.” One thing he’s sure of: “He’s a grotesque beyond belief being.”

Speaking Wednesday at the ‘Rum Diary’ junket (check back later for interviews with Eckhart and co-star Amber Heard) Eckhart said he was initially dismissive of the idea. “I mean, I don’t just jump off and do Frankenstein movies, but I read this and I thought, ‘I actually really like this movie. It’s a new take on Frakenstein.’”

Even though he kept pronouncing it as “Fronk-en-shteen” as Gene Wilder did in ‘Young Frankenstein,’ Eckhart promises that this won’t be a lighthearted romp. The actor says it will draw inspiration from the original novel by Mary Shelley, although it won’t be a straight adaptation like the 1994 film starring Robert De Niro.

“The thing about it is, there’s no mention of [the monster's look] in Mary Shelley. This is all made-up-stuff [by Hollywood.] You go back into Mary Shelley’s book and he’s an incredibly soulful and insightful, tender-souled man and I hope to get more of that in there. Yes, he’s grotesque beyond description, but he’s a man who’s been abandoned by his creator. So I hope to get more of that in it.”

He then added, with a grin, “But really what it is, is I’m going to be kicking ass. It’s gonna be great.”

‘I, Frankenstein’ starts filming in February with director Stuart Beattie (’30 Days of Night’) at the helm for a 2013 release.

Source: Moviefone

Just days after word broke that Aaron Eckhart would be playing the lead in the upcoming I, Frankenstein, ComingSoon.net had a chance to sit and speak with the actor at the junket for his latest, The Rum Diary. We’ll have the full interview available soon, but here’s what he had to say of his casting in the graphic novel adaptation.

“Somebody says, ‘Do you want to play Frankenstein?’ and I was like, ‘Well, I haven’t thought about it,” Eckhart laughed of the role coming his way, “Then I read the script. Whenever you read a script that you want to do, you start feeling yourself in that character. All of a sudden your juices start flowing. That’s how you know you should do a movie. Now I’m gonna be Frankenstein and I’m kind of worried about it, actually. I’ve gotta go and figure out how the hell I’m gonna play Frankenstein.”

Set to begin filming in Australia in January, the film tells the modern-day tale of Dr. Frankenstein’s creature, Adam, who nearly centuries after his “birth”, has found himself in a gothic city, caught up in a war between two immortal clans. Though based on the comic by Kevin Grevioux, Eckhart explained that Mary Shelley’s original novel is where he’s currently focusing his attention.

“Oh yeah,” Eckhart replied when asked if the role was planned to be make-up heavy, “…[But] I think bolts came later. I’m not finding bolts in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein.’ I think all that sort of stuff is an invention of Hollywood. I don’t know where it came from. Even the lightning isn’t a big part of [her book]. ‘Frankenstein’ the book deals more with the subjective. The feelings of the creature and less about the making of.”

I, Frankenstein is planned for release on February 22, 2013 while The Rum Diary arrives in theaters this October 28th.

Source: Coming Soon

Aaron attended the Giorgio Armani/Vanity Fair Private Dinner in Los Angeles and I’ve added photos from the event.

2011 > Giorgio Armani/Vanity Fair Private Dinner (10.11.11)

Catching up on more updates… I’ve added photos of Aaron on The Tonight Show, plus an interview backstage shortly after his appearance.

Appearances > 2011 > The Tonight Show (10.10.11)

I’ve added four new promotional stills of Aaron in “The Rum Diary”. These photos just keep getting better and better!

The Rum Diary (2011) > Stills

I’ve added photos of Aaron in the April 2011 issue of the Spanish magazine DT. Check the spread out in the gallery!

Magazines > DT (April 2011)

I’ve added new promotional stills of Aaron in The Rum Diary. Check them out in the gallery!

The Rum Diary (2011) > Stills

Here is Aaron’s appearance on The Tonight Show where he talks about bears up at his ranch in Montana and his celebrity blind date. Also, his parents James and Mary make a little cameo appearance, aww!

Aaron will be attending the Savannah Film Festival as one of this year’s honoured guests. The festival runs from October 29 – November 5. You can find more information about the festival and to buy tickets at their website.

Here is the official press release for Aaron’s next movie, I, Frankenstein. It reveals the film will be shooting in Australia (Webmiss represent!).

Aaron Eckhart to Star in Lakeshore, Hopscotch, Lionsgate Production of I, FRANKENSTEIN

Los Angeles, CA, October 7, 2011 – Aaron Eckhart will play ADAM FRANKENSTEIN in the Lakeshore Entertainment, Hopscotch Features and Lionsgate production of I, FRANKENSTEIN, commencing in Australia in January. The film was written and is to be directed by Stuart Beattie (director of Australia’s breakout hit TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, and writer of such films as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, G.I. JOE, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and COLLATERAL), and is based on a graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux, co-creator of the UNDERWORLD franchise. Lionsgate will distribute the film in the United States, Lakeshore will handle international sales and E1/Hopscotch will distribute in Australia. U.S. release is slated for February 22, 2013.

Aaron Eckhart recently finished shooting the lead role as an ex-CIA agent in THE EXPATRIATE, and stars alongside Johnny Depp in the upcoming THE RUM DIARY. He is repped by CAA.

I, FRANKENSTEIN is a modern-day epic: Frankenstein’s creature, ADAM, has survived to present day due to a genetic quirk in his creation. Making his way to a dark, gothic metropolis, he finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans. As writer/director, Stuart Beattie said, “Mary Shelly’s story is about the creation of the first human being. This is the story about that being becoming human.”

“We are thrilled to again be collaborating with Lakeshore Entertainment, and Aaron Eckhart, one of today’s most versatile and talented actors. This story is all about what it means to be human, and there could be no more achingly human performance than the one Aaron gave in our own RABBIT HOLE. We are so excited to see what he will bring to this role,” said Lionsgate’s co-COO and Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake of the production. “This is a wonderfully imaginative script and we are looking forward to seeing it brought to life by a talented filmmaker, and to bringing this story to our loyal genre fans.”

“We’ve tremendously enjoyed making our UNDERWORLD franchise films and we are looking forward to working with Stuart and our partners at Hopscotch and Lionsgate to create a new world for a legendary character,” said Lakeshore’s Tom Rosenberg, adding “We know that Aaron, with his proven range, depth and intelligence, is going to make an iconic ADAM.”

Troy Lum of Hopscotch said, “We have wanted to work with Stuart on a big film in Australia and when we had the opportunity earlier this year to expand our relationship with Lakeshore on the creation of a potential franchise, it all came together.”

Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Andrew Mason (who produced Beattie’s TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN) and Richard Wright of Lakeshore are producing the film, with Hopscotch’s Troy Lum and Kevin Grevioux as executive producers.

Michael Paseornek, Lionsgate’s President of Motion Picture Development and Production will be shepherding the project at the studio. The deal was negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate by Wendy Jaffe, EVP Business & Legal Affairs for Acquisitions, and by Rob McEntegart, Senior EVP of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group. Beattie is represented by CAA.

Source: Lionsgate