Though the Frankenstein-flavoured Yorgos Lanthimos film will still be making its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this summer, Searchlight Pictures’ Poor Things has pushed back its release window from September 8th to December 8th.

Poor Things is the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

Beyond Stone, Dafoe and Ruffalo, the cast also includes Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Kathryn Hunter, Margaret Qualley, and Christopher Abbott. Based on Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel of the same name, Poor Things is co-written by Lanthimos and Tony McNamara (who also co-wrote The Favourite, in which Stone starred).

The delayed release is likely due to the anticipated effects of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

Poor Things will release in cinemas from December 8th, 2023. You can check out the previously released and utterly strange trailer here.