There is a very interesting piece at thegrio.com titled “‘I, Frankenstein’ writer discusses lack of black filmmakers in science fiction.” This topic is worthy of discussion anytime, but most assuredly in October which is Afrofuturism month. The article shares the thoughts of genre writer and actor Kevin Grevioux, known previously for work on the Underworld series of films. He begins by discussing how he left graduate studies in science behind to pursue writing for comic books. Along the way he gets to the thrust of the article borne out by the title, and notes that the African American experience can bring a missing dimension to much of current science fiction. Grevioux goes on to mention his own work as an example, and how in Underworld he incorporated concerns over fears on interracial dating and division over physical differences.

Another interesting facet of this essay is Grevioux’s mention of biblical influences in his latest project, the forthcoming film I, Frankenstein:

“Here you have a monster created by man, created by God, who basically didn’t ask to be here,” Grevioux remarks. “Yet, basically, Dr. Frankenstein didn’t do for the monster he made like God did for Adam. He did not teach him right from wrong. What you have is basically an abandoned son who is trying to find himself in a world he never made.”

Mary Shelley’s novel has a long history of mutations in expression (as Susan Tyler Hitchcock discussed with TFQ previously), and Grevioux’s is but the most recent, along with his incorporation of theological ad metaphysical commentary. After viewing the trailer the viewer can see that, much like Grievoux’s previous work in action-horror, I, Frankenstein appears to come down more on the side of the former in that hybrid genre. One can also see the continued expression of the postmodern monster filled with angst and seeking to do good, and the conflation and identification of the name of the creature’s creator with the monster himself.

If I, Frankenstein is half as entertaining as the Underworld series was, then viewers are in for a treat. But regardless, he’s given us something important to think about.