Jacob Elordi: From ‘Frankenstein’ to the Oscars – the Phenomenon Taking Italy by Storm

If you thought the Jacob Elordi fever was bound to cool off after the success of “Euphoria” and “Priscilla”, think again. Over the past year, the Australian actor has levelled up in a way that’s catapulted him into an entirely new stratosphere – the one reserved for Hollywood’s biggest names. And the driving force behind this meteoric rise has a very specific name: “Frankenstein: Written and Directed by Guillermo Del Toro”.

I know, it sounds strange to talk about Frankenstein as a springboard for a major star, but this isn’t your average monster. With Guillermo Del Toro at the helm, you expect nothing less than a visceral masterpiece. And if the early whispers doing the rounds among industry insiders and critics are anything to go by, Elordi has delivered a performance so physical and tormented that it’s bewitched the Academy. Yes, you read that right: the guy who once stole scenes in a TV series is now officially an Oscar nominee. And this isn’t some filler nomination either. There’s serious talk of a potential win.

Since the nomination news broke, the spotlight on him has become blinding. But what I find fascinating is how Italy is embracing this phenomenon. It’s not just the usual story of a handsome actor winning over female fans. There’s a total cultural takeover happening here. Take a stroll through central Milan or Rome and you’ll see what I mean: “I Love Jacob Elordi” T-shirts have become a must-have for the under-25s, but you’ll also spot them on fifty-somethings who discovered him through the more art-house phase of his career.

And then there’s the pop-culture side, the bit that really makes me smile. You know those celebrity cutouts – the life-size cardboard standees? Well, the limited editions featuring his likeness, often tied to his Frankenstein character but also the classic arcade-style standee, are flying off the shelves. I’ve spotted a couple hanging in hipster bars in Bologna, and in Naples they were used for a flash mob ahead of the first trailer drop. It’s become a viral sensation that goes way beyond your standard movie fandom.

To grasp the scale of the moment, just look at what happened a few weeks ago. There was all that kerfuffle about an alleged “deportation” at a border control – a piece of fake news that started God knows where and spread like wildfire on social media. In reality, according to sources close to the actor’s camp, it was nothing so dramatic: just the usual tight scrutiny over a work visa. The story still caused a stir because it showed just how high the tension is surrounding him. Here, the tabloids milked it for all it was worth, but the public responded with an incredible wave of solidarity, turning the incident into yet another marker of his iconic status.

This blend of high art and pop culture is his real strength. On one hand, you have the actor being directed by Guillermo Del Toro, and with “Weak in Comparison to Dreams: A Novel” – that side project which doesn’t get much chatter but is cementing his literary credibility – he’s showing a real commitment to building a solid career. On the other, there’s the personality who ends up on merchandise, on T-shirts, and the one people want to have in their homes in cardboard form. It’s a tricky balance to strike, but he’s navigating it with an almost surreal calm.

Here’s what makes this moment so special:

• The Oscar is within reach: If he wins, he’d become the youngest actor to take home the statuette for a horror/literary role in years, definitively raising the bar for his career.
• Italy adores him: He’s not just an actor; he’s an aesthetic obsession. Young Italians have crowned him a style icon, and there isn’t a single glitzy event that doesn’t somehow reference him.
• The “monster” narrative: Thanks to Del Toro, the Frankenstein story becomes the perfect metaphor for his fame: an icon pieced together, simultaneously loved and feared, now seeking its humanity through industry recognition.

So, hold on tight. Because what we’re witnessing isn’t just the promotional cycle for a film. It’s the definitive coronation of an actor who’s chosen not to be boxed in. Oscar or no Oscar, T-shirt or cardboard cutout in your bedroom, Jacob Elordi has officially entered our daily lives. And some are willing to bet this is just the beginning of a very, very long reign.