British Council Logo UK Films Database
Project Detail

Mary Shelley

Synopsis

The story of the whirlwind love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18-year-old Mary Wollstonecroft that led to the creation of the world's first science fiction novel 'Frankenstein'.
Passionate and rebellious teenager Mary Wollstonecroft finds a kindred spirit in poet Percy Shelley. They are bound together by a natural chemistry and progressive ideas that are beyond the boundaries of their age and time. Mary and Percy declare their love for each other and much to her family's horror they elope together, joined by Mary's half sister Claire. At Lord Byron's house at Lake Geneva the idea of Frankenstein is conceived when a challenge is put to all house guests to write a ghost story. An incredible character is created by Mary, but society at the time puts little value in a woman writing such a literary masterpiece, and Mary is forced to challenge the society to protect her monster and forge her own identity.
Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2017 - Gala Presentations - World premiere

Details

Year
2017
Type of project
Features
Running time
120 mins
Director
Haifaa Al-Mansour
Producer
Amy Baer, Ruth Coady, Alan Moloney
Co-Producer
Orlagh Collins, David Grumbach
Executive Producer
Mark Amin, Tyler Boehm, Joannie Burstein, Johanna Hogan, Phil Hunt, Emma Jensen, Rebecca Miller, Compton Ross, Cami Winikoff
Editor
Alex Mackie
Screenwriter
Haifaa Al-Mansour, Emma Jensen, Conor McPherson
Director of Photography
David Ungaro
Production Designer
Paki Smith
Principal cast
Elle Fanning, Douglas Booth, Tom Sturridge, Bel Powley, Stephen Dillane, Maisie Williams, Ben Hardy, Joanne Froggatt

Genre

Woman Director Drama

Categories

Fiction

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Ireland, UK, Luxembourg, US coproduction

Gidden Media (US), Parallel Films (UK), HanWay Films (UK), Juliette Films (LU), Sobini Films (US)

Parallel Films

107-109 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 6QG

HanWay Films

24 Hanway Street
London
W1T 1UH

Sales Company

HanWay Films

24 Hanway Street
London
W1T 1UH

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Tanya Reynolds in Date Night Date Night

Director: Tanya Reynolds

Year: 2026

Danielle and Harry's latest attempt at roleplay shines an uncomfortable light on what they really want from life. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

Comedy
A woman in red apron sits alone at a table with a face-decorated cake, surrounded by empty stacked chairs Sweet Bitter Sweet

Director: Nicolee Tsin

Year: 2026

Envy, a young Chinese woman searches for love while working at a bakery. When she secretly bakes a cake for her crush, her ideal fantasies of love are confronted by reality. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

Asian Comedy Romance Woman Director
MaeBee - The Camping Trap MaeBee - The Camping Trap

Director: Tim O'Sullivan, Craig Knowles

Year: 2026

Mae and Bee try to reunite their parents during their annual family camping trip. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

Children’s Comedy