Today's biggest social media beef has nothing to do with video games, politics, or anything else of the usual sort. Instead, it's between Guillermo del Toro and…. a ghost?
It sounds silly, but indeed, the Oscar-winning filmmaker has caused something of a viral moment by live-tweeting his paranormal updates while staying in the "most haunted" room in an old hotel in Aberdeen, Scotland, where he's currently filming a new movie based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Del Toro first wrote that he'd be staying in the room on Tuesday, after one of his producers apparently vacated it in fear over "odd electrical and physical occurences."
For what it's worth, del Toro added that he had "high hopes" that he'd have some sort of supernatural experience in the room. Based on his subsequent updates, it looks like he might've gotten his wish.
I always stay in “the most haunted rooms“ but onlybonce did I experience anything supernatural- the rest of the time: nothing. I have high hopes.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) August 20, 2024
In an update late yesterday, del Toro wrote that, while nothing supernatural has actually happened yet, the atmosphere in the room is "oppressive," and he'd have to sleep in another room in order to get enough rest. "I'm stopping there early and late in the day- but something is in that room with me," del Toro wrote. Ominous!
UPDATE-. I can only say:. Nothingbhas happened yet, but the atmosphere in the room is opressive and I am not gonna spend much more time there. It may be suggestion, but at this point I kept it but am sleeping in another room- I need 6 hours of sleep to have a good shooting day-…
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) August 22, 2024
He promised at least one or two more updates on the situation, especially considering that at this point, fans were concerned. "Please get out of there! I’m scared for you and i don’t even know you Guillermo," one fan on X/Twitter replied. "This is stressing me out."
One fan simply asked: "Are you being haunted bro?"
Luckily, as promised, del Toro has continued to post updates, and is continuing to post them as I write this story. One came just about an hour ago, with The Shape of Water director writing that he had finished filming for the day and was headed to the room before dinner.
"Anything happens and I will update," he wrote. "the room has more than vibes there is something angry and teritorial there. A shred of rage."
His most recent update came just a few minutes before the publication of this story, where he said he was "trying for an EVP on my Iphone." For those less informed on matters of paranormal investigating, del Toro is likely trying for what's referred to in the ghosthunting community as an occurrence of electronic voice phenomena (EVP), electronic recordings that are said to pick up spirit voices.
trying for an EVP on my Iphone pic.twitter.com/QUblyTQozK
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) August 22, 2024
Unsurprisingly, the internet is, well, pretty riveted by the whole situation.
"the most compelling movie out there right now isn't even in theaters — it is watching guillermo del toro livetweet his haunted film shoot," wrote New York Times tech reporter Mike Isaac.
Honey wake up Guillermo Del Toro is beefing with a ghost https://t.co/KOLymy132k
— JJ (@WildeePatrol) August 22, 2024
We’re all yammering away about whatever we are and all the while Guillermo del Toro is trapped in a haunted hotel https://t.co/LRHOcmZWRy
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) August 22, 2024
Keeping tabs on the Guillermo Del Toro hotel ghost situation. pic.twitter.com/G0LNDqCTQT
— Jeff Hodges (@Hi_Def_Jeff) August 22, 2024
Since this is — and I say this without a hint of irony — a developing story, we'll keep an eye out for updates from del Toro and add them here. Stay safe out there, GDT.
Del Toro's long-awaited Frankenstein movie has finally been coming together in the last couple of years, recently casting Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi as The Monster (replacing Andrew Garfield, who left due to scheduling conflicts). It also stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein alongside Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz.
Thumbnail credit: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
