Hollywood director praises 'magical' Edinburgh bookshop as he takes filming break

Guillermo del Toro is in Edinburgh filming an upcoming retelling of Frankenstein
-Credit: (Image: X/@RealGDT)


An Edinburgh bookshop welcomed a Hollywood director, currently in the capital filming an upcoming gothic movie.

Guillermo Del Toro, known for spooky blockbusters such as Pan's Labyrinth and the Shape of Water, has been spotted around the city recently with production of Frankenstein currently in progress.

Fans saw him on the Royal Mile on Monday afternoon, alongside actress Mia Goth. He also visited Golden Hare Books in Stockbridge, describing the shop as 'breathtaking'.

READ MORE - Hollywood star Jacob Elordi spotted filming for 'Frankenstein' in Edinburgh

READ MORE - Edinburgh and West Lothian feature in new Samuel L Jackson Amazon crime thriller

Taking to X, Guillermo del Toro said: "Shooting Tue-Saturday this week.

"So - visited a magical bookstore - Golden Hare in St Stephen’s Street: hand-picked, breathtaking book sections that are curated by the staff.

"Its like being able to buy off someone’s most cherished shelves!"

Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

Golden Hare Books replied: "Thank you so much! We hope you're enjoying your time in Edinburgh."

Mark Gardiner added: "Welcome back to Edinburgh GDT! Glad that scouting trip last year paid off.

Guillermo Del Toro and Mia Goth spotted on set
Guillermo Del Toro and Mia Goth spotted on set -Credit:Peter Fraser

"You’ve assembled a hell of a cast, so many great actors in there, a panoply of villainy when you think of their other roles. Can’t wait to see your Frankenstein next year!"

With Edinburgh chosen as the backdrop for the retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Parliament Square in the Old Town has been transformed. Old-fashioned market stalls, wooden chairs and horse tack were seen across the square.

Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages

An IMDB description of the horror movie reads: "Dr. Pretorius tracks down Frankenstein's monster, who is believed to have died in a fire forty years before, in order to continue the experiments of Dr. Victor Frankenstein."

With actress Mia Goth in the city for the film, known for roles in Maxxxine and Pearl, her husband Shia LaBeouf has also been spotted around Edinburgh. Footage of LaBeouf in a 'stand-off' with locals in the Cowgate after a night out went viral online.

The actor was seen being held back
The actor was seen being held back -Credit:Reddit

In the clip, a resident is seen arguing with the actor as pals appear to hold them back from each other. The Disturbia actor begins to walk away before turning back round and continuing to shout.

Others have bumped into the Hollywood actor and had more positive experiences. On TikTok, one fan shared a selfie with the actor. He shared that he was in his local 'dive bar' on Sunday night. The punter added: "Absolute legend. So friendly and down to earth."