Oscar winner Christoph Waltz has confirmed he will play the part of mad scientist Dr Septimus Pretorius in the latest film adaptation of Frankenstein.
The role was famously portrayed by eccentric British actor Ernest Thesiger in 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein opposite Boris Karloff’s iconic monster.
In previous films, it was Dr Pretorius who convinced Dr Frankenstein to resume his experiments in bringing dead flesh to life – resulting in the creation of the nightmarish monster.
Waltz’s comments were made during an interview on the pitch at Celtic Park, in Glasgow, before the home side played city rivals Rangers.
Christoph Waltz, pictured at Celtic Park in Glasgow, will play mad scientist Dr Pretorius
The role of Dr Pretorius was famously portrayed by eccentric British actor Ernest Thesiger in 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein opposite Boris Karloff’s iconic monster.
When asked how he was enjoying playing Dr Pretorius in the new Frankenstein film, Waltz, 67, replied: ‘That’s me, I’m a little grumpy and curmudgeonly so I said “let’s do the job first and celebrate later”.
Austrian actor Waltz is part of a star-studded cast that have been filming scenes for Frankenstein in Scotland in recent weeks.
The film - a reimagining of the 1818 novel by Mary Shelley - is being directed by Guillermo del Toro and will also stars Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, David Bradley, Charles Dance and Oscar Isaac – who plays mad scientist Victor Frankenstein.
And Waltz revealed his co-stars were jealous of his invitation to Celtic Park to watch the match on Sunday.
He told Celtic TV: ‘I can’t decide between the feeling of being honoured and the excitement to be invited to the Glasgow derby.
‘On the set when word got around that I was going to be here, everybody was jealous and I said “Don’t worry guys, I’ll tell you how it went”.’
Also, as the players came out onto the pitch to warm up, he added: ‘Being here, that close, I’ve never experienced anything like it, because it’s my first time, so you understand my excitement.’
And despite being a Bayern Munich fan, Waltz said that if the German side were to play Celtic in Munich he would be ‘wearing a green jersey’. Celtic went on to win the game 3 - 0.
Walt was delighted with his time in Glasgow and said his co-stars would be 'jealous'
Famous for his portrayal of villains, Waltz has won two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained and also starred as James Bond's nemesis Blofeld film Spectre.
Netflix has reported that del Toro’s Frankenstein will be ‘set in Eastern Europe in the 19th century, the story of Dr Pretorius, who needs to track down Frankenstein’s monster - who is believed to have died in a fire 40 years before - in order to continue the experiments of Dr Frankenstein’.
Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport
<!- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - ->
Advertisement
Filming locations in Scotland have included Glasgow Cathedral and Dunecht House on the outskirts of Aberdeen – where crew reported being creeped out by a ‘haunted’ room.
In a social media post, del Toro told fans he was staying in the ‘most haunted room’ of the ‘old 1800s hotel’.
He also said: ‘I love Scotland- and, even when my links to it are not by bloodline, I feel close to it.’
Crews descended on the stately home, which was built in 1820, near Aberdeen, this week, where a sign refers to them as the ‘Prodigal Father Crew’.
Prodigal Father is thought to be the working title of the horror movie, starring Oscar Issac as mad scientist Victor Frankenstein.
In a post on X, Mr del Toro said: ‘Whilst in Aberdeen, I am staying in an old 1800s hotel.
'I am in the Most Haunted room of it- which was vacated this morning by one of our producers. Odd electrical and physical occurrences scared her into leaving asap.
'Stay tuned- if anything happens I will report.’
He told fans: ‘I always stay in “the most haunted rooms” but only once did I experience anything supernatural- the rest of the time: nothing. I have high hopes.’
DirectorGuillermo del Toro stayed in a 'haunted' room at Dunecht House near Aberdeen
The Mexican director later updated fans, writing: ‘The room has more than vibes, there is something angry and territorial there. A shred of rage.’
However, he said ‘no sounds or sights happened- but just an oppressive vibe’ and said that he would return to the room later on.
Mr del Toro previously won an Academy Award for best director for The Shape of Water.
Other films he has directed include Pan’s Labyrinth and Pinocchio.
