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Musical 'Frankenstein' makes big-screen debut, aims to expand global reach
Musical actor Park Eun-tae, left, and singer-actor Kyuhyun pose during a press event at Megabox Seongsu in eastern Seoul's Seongdong District, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Pyo Kyung-min
After more than 10 years on stage, the Korean original musical "Frankenstein" is being reborn for the big screen as "Frankenstein: The Musical Live."
Shot from a live performance during the musical's 10th anniversary season in summer 2024, the film captures the 19th-century tale of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who defies divine authority by reviving the dead, and the tragic fate of the Monster born from his experiment, based on the Mary Shelley novel.
Over the past decade, the production has become one of Korea's best-known musicals, celebrated for drawing repeat attenders and multiple sold-out runs.
The screen version's director Park Jae-seok, cast members Kyuhyun and Park Eun-tae, and EMK Musical Company's vice president and producer Kim Ji-won attended a press screening at Megabox Seongsu in eastern Seoul, Tuesday.
From left, actors Kyuhyun, Park Eun-tae, EMK Musical Company's vice president Kim Ji-won and producer Park Jae-seok attend a press event at Megabox Seongsu, Seongdong District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
"The greatest advantage of filming a live show for theatrical release is that once it's filmed, people can keep watching it," Kyuhyun, who plays Frankenstein, said.
"On stage, actors wear down their bodies and voices with each performance, but this preserves the work for many more people to see. For me, it also keeps my youngest years on stage alive and that makes me especially happy."
Park Eun-tae, who has appeared in every run of the musical since its 2014 premiere as Henri Dupre — Frankenstein's friend who later meets a tragic fate — said the project carries special meaning for him.
"Through the live recording, I could even see expressions of mine I'd never noticed before. To me, the fact that this show was made into a film has deep significance," he said.
Park Eun-tae plays the role of Henri Dupre, a character who transforms into the Monster in the musical “Frankenstein.” Courtesy of EMK Musical Company
Unlike the usual view from an audience seat, the film includes extreme close-ups of the actors' subtle movements and expressions, details often missed during live performances. Director Park Jae-seok said that distinction was intentional.
"The goal of making this film wasn't simply to archive the show, but to maximize the musical's appeal so the actors' emotions really came through on screen," he said.
For EMK, the cinematic release is a bold move in a market where stage-to-screen projects are rare. Kim said skepticism was strong at first.
"Some said live theater shouldn't be frozen in time, that it would diminish the essence of performance. But we wanted to preserve the production as a record and also saw the need for new opportunities," she said.
The pandemic also shifted perceptions, she added, with audiences and actors more open to filmed performances and technology advancing enough to capture them.
"By showing views that audiences could never see from their seats, we wanted to create new ways to enjoy the work," Kim said.
This film is part of EMK’s broader push to expand its musicals beyond the stage. In August, Disney+ began streaming proshots of several of the company’s best-known productions, including "Elizabeth," "Phantom," 'Monte Cristo," "The Man Who Laughs," "Excalibur" and "Marie Antoinette," introducing them to global audiences.
Kyuhyun plays Victor Frankenstein, whose experiment gives birth to a tragic monster, in the musical “Frankenstein.” Courtesy of EMK Musical Company
For Park Eun-tae, the film also serves a greater purpose.
"Because our productions usually run for only a limited time, this is a rare chance to introduce Korean musicals internationally," he said.
"Unless overseas fans or theater professionals actually come over to Korea, they never get to see our shows. Through this film, we can show the world the skill of our cast, crew and creative teams."
He added that he hopes the release will lower barriers for people who feel musicals are inaccessible.
"Many seem to think musicals are too expensive or out of reach ... If this film makes even one person curious to try a musical, that would be enough. Accessibility has improved, so I just want people to give it a chance," he said with a laugh.
"Frankenstein: The Musical Live" opens nationwide on Sept. 18, exclusively at Megabox theaters.