The Bride! World Premiere Brings Gothic Romance to Red Carpet

Stars like Jessie Buckley, Penélope Cruz, and Julianne Hough channel dark, moody glamour for the film's debut.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The stars of the new film The Bride!, which riffs off of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, brought out their sartorial best for the movie's world premiere in London. Lead actress Jessie Buckley channeled the Gothic romance of her character in a whimsical sheer black couture gown, while her co-stars Penélope Cruz and Julianne Hough also showcased their own unique red-carpet styles.

Why it matters

The Bride! is a modern reimagining of the classic Frankenstein story, exploring themes of loneliness, the search for connection, and the power of the monstrous. The film's world premiere red-carpet event allowed the stars to embody the dark, moody aesthetic of the movie through their fashion choices, generating excitement for the film's upcoming release.

The details

Directed and written by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Bride! is set in 1930s Chicago and follows a lonely monster who tries to recruit a mad scientist to create a mate for himself. Jessie Buckley stars as the titular Bride, with Christian Bale co-starring as Frankenstein's monster. Buckley described the intense, exhausting shoot, saying she and Bale were "two greyhounds that were just let out of their kennels" during filming.

  • The Bride! had its world premiere in London on February 26, 2026.

The players

Jessie Buckley

The Golden Globe-winning actress stars as the lead role of the Bride in the new film.

Christian Bale

The acclaimed actor co-stars as Frankenstein's monster in The Bride!.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

The director and writer of The Bride!, a modern reimagining of the Frankenstein story.

Penélope Cruz

The Spanish actress attended the world premiere in a shimmering Chanel gown.

Julianne Hough

The dancer and actress wore a pleated Petar Petrov piece to the red-carpet event.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We were both intense. We both were two greyhounds that were just let out of their kennels, and it was really, really thrilling. It was really probably the most intense, exhausting shoot of my life, but it was so fun.”

— Jessie Buckley, Actress (Entertainment Weekly)

The takeaway

The Bride!'s world premiere red-carpet event showcased the stars' commitment to embodying the film's Gothic, romantic aesthetic, generating excitement for the movie's upcoming release and highlighting the creative vision of director Maggie Gyllenhaal in bringing this modern Frankenstein story to life.