It’s Friday The 13th – Watch The Trailer For MARY SHELLY, Author Of Frankenstein, Starring Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams And Bel Powley

MARY SHELLEY tells the story of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (Elle Fanning) – author of one of the world’s most famous Gothic novels ‘Frankenstein’ – and her fiery, tempestuous relationship with renowned romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (Douglas Booth.) The pair are two outsiders constrained by polite society but 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 run away together, joined by Mary’s half-sister Claire (Bel Powley.)

In the midst of growing tension within their relationship during their stay at Lord Byron’s (Tom Sturridge) house at Lake Geneva, the idea of Frankenstein is conceived when a challenge is put to all houseguests to write a ghost story. An incredible character is created, which will loom large in popular culture for centuries to come, but society at the time puts little value in female authors. At the tender age of 18, Mary is forced to challenge these preconceptions, to protect her work and to forge her own identity.

IFC Films has released a first trailer for this terrific film.

The screenplay for MARY SHELLEY was written by Emma Jensen, with additional writing by director Haifaa Al Mansour. Haifaa credits finding a kindred spirit in MARY SHELLEY for her taking on the project, saying “I come from Saudi Arabia and although it’s an English period film about the story of a young girl growing up who is trying to find her voice, surrounded by superstition that she wants to break free of, I really identified with the main character.” Producer Amy Baer said of the spec screenplay that was sent to her “I was astounded that Mary was only 18 when she created and wrote Frankenstein and I felt that this was a story that had to be told.” Fellow producer Alan Moloney added that the story “essentially subverts everything that we think we know about the early 1800’s in England, and I liked that!”. Producer Ruth Coady said she was “blown away by the strength and fight that this extremely young woman found within her,” and that the life of Mary Shelley is “a powerful story that feels very relevant right now.”

For leading actress Elle Fanning, who plays Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, her closeness in age to the character at the time of her writing Frankenstein, and her progressive outlook, made the author an ideal role – commenting that “to be able to play a woman that was so ahead of her time in so many ways was really what attracted me to the script. I was very nervous and scared because no one has ever told HER tale before, and because it’s such a special one that I think needs to be heard. Although set in the 1800’s, I think her journey is so modern and relevant to today’s world.”

Commenting on the strong team of creative women behind the scenes on MARY SHELLEY, Haifaa said “I feel I honestly connect with female protagonists and have been very excited about working on this particular project – with two female producers, a female editor and a female composer.” Elle Fanning, who plays Mary Shelley, said of having Haifaa as a director that “in a way she just knows what it feels like to be a young girl, to grow up and go through the hardships that women have. A lot of strong women have lived with this script, it’s very powerful and you can feel that on set which I think is crucial and important in telling Mary’s story.” Douglas Booth, acting opposite Elle as her partner Percy Shelley concurs, “I think be-cause Haifaa has had to fight for every single thing that she has ever achieved, she has a very real understanding of a woman that has a story to tell but society is not letting her tell it. She understands Mary’s journey. She has a great understanding of humanity, the core of people and I think this really shines through in this film.”

MARY SHELLEY opens in theaters May 25.

www.ifcfilms.com/films/mary-shelley