History of Guillermo del Toro in Timeline
Guillermo del Toro is a celebrated Mexican filmmaker, author, and artist renowned for his distinct dark fantasy style. His work masterfully blends fairy tales, gothic elements, and horror, creating visually stunning and often grotesque narratives. Del Toro's fascination with monsters is central to his work, viewing them as powerful symbols. He is a pioneer of dark fantasy in cinema, known for his use of insectile and religious imagery, themes of Catholicism and imperfection, underworld settings, practical effects, and signature amber lighting.
7 hours ago : Guillermo del Toro Honored with BFI Fellowship for Animation and Film Career
Guillermo del Toro received the BFI Fellowship for his outstanding career in animation and film. He also confessed to almost quit after Pan's Labyrinth.
1946: Publication of Nightmare Alley
In 1946, the novel Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham was published, later adapted into a film directed by Guillermo del Toro.
October 1964: Guillermo del Toro's birth
In October 1964, Guillermo del Toro Gómez was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, to Guadalupe Gómez Camberos and automotive entrepreneur Federico del Toro Torres. His parents were of Spanish descent and he was raised in a strict Catholic household.
1969: Father Wins Lottery
In 1969, Guillermo del Toro's father won a lottery worth $6 million, which enabled del Toro to be raised among books and exotic animals.
1973: The Spirit of the Beehive Release
In 1973, the Spanish film The Spirit of the Beehive was released, which is widely considered to be the finest Spanish film of the 1970s. This film shares similar settings, protagonists, and themes with del Toro's later works, The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth.
1976: José López Portillo's Presidency
José López Portillo was the president of Mexico from 1976 to 1982. This period was later referenced by del Toro in the context of Mexican cinema funding.
1977: Polanski's Charges of Drugging and Raping
In 1977, director Roman Polanski faced charges of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl, a case that would resurface decades later. This incident became a focal point of controversy within the film community.
1982: José López Portillo's Presidency Ends
José López Portillo's presidency ended in 1982. This period was later referenced by del Toro in the context of Mexican cinema funding.
1986: Marriage to Lorenza Newton
In 1986, Guillermo del Toro married Lorenza Newton, cousin of singer Guadalupe Pineda, after meeting her while studying at the Instituto de Ciencias in Guadalajara. They later had two daughters together.
1997: Kidnapping of Del Toro's Father
Around 1997, Del Toro's father, Federico del Toro Torres, was kidnapped in Guadalajara. A ransom was paid for his release after 72 days, an event that prompted the family to move abroad.
1997: Directing Mimic
In 1997, Guillermo del Toro, at age 33, was given a $30 million budget from Miramax to direct the film Mimic. Del Toro was unhappy with how Miramax treated him during production.
2007: Del Toro Describes Political Position
In a 2007 interview, del Toro described his political position as "a little too liberal." He expressed his aversion to authoritarianism and institutions.
April 2008: Del Toro Hired to Direct The Hobbit
In April 2008, Guillermo del Toro was hired by Peter Jackson to direct the live-action film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.
December 2008: Expressed Interest in The Witches Remake
In December 2008, Guillermo del Toro expressed interest in a stop-motion remake of Roald Dahl's novel The Witches in collaboration with Alfonso Cuarón.
2008: Release of Rudo y Cursi
In 2008, Cha Cha Cha Films, the production company founded by the "Three Amigos" (Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón, and Alejandro González Iñárritu), released its first film, Rudo y Cursi.
2008: Pinocchio Film Announced
In 2008, Guillermo del Toro announced he was working on a dark stop-motion film adaptation of "The Adventures of Pinocchio", co-directed by Adam Parrish King, with The Jim Henson Company as production company, and music by Nick Cave.
June 2009: Release of The Strain
On June 2, 2009, Guillermo del Toro's first novel, The Strain, was released. It is the first part of an apocalyptic vampire trilogy co-authored by del Toro and Chuck Hogan.
2009: Del Toro Signs Petition Supporting Roman Polanski
In 2009, Guillermo del Toro signed a petition in support of director Roman Polanski after his detention in Switzerland regarding his 1977 charges. The petition emphasized the importance of film festivals as safe venues for artistic expression.
2009: Production Deal with Disney Announced
In 2009, Guillermo del Toro's Double Dare You production company and Disney announced a production deal for a line of darker animated films at the D23 Expo.
2009: Del Toro Discusses Religious Beliefs
In a 2009 interview, Guillermo del Toro discussed his religious beliefs, describing his Catholic upbringing as excessively "morbid" and explaining how he "mercifully lapsed as a Catholic", stating that he is "once a Catholic, always a Catholic, in a way".
May 30, 2010: Del Toro Leaves The Hobbit
On May 30, 2010, Guillermo del Toro left the project to direct the live-action film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit due to extended delays caused by MGM's financial troubles.
September 2010: Release of The Fall
On September 21, 2010, The Fall, the second volume of The Strain trilogy co-authored by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, was released.
December 2010: Launch of Mirada Studios
On December 9, 2010, Guillermo del Toro launched Mirada Studios with Guillermo Navarro, Mathew Cullen, and Javier Jimenez. Mirada was formed in Los Angeles, California.
2010: Del Toro Reveals Fan Status of Video Games
In 2010, del Toro revealed he was a fan of video games, describing them as "the comic books of our time" and cited Ico and Shadow of the Colossus as masterpieces, marking his appreciation for the medium.
2010: Deal Moved to DreamWorks Animation
In late 2010, Guillermo del Toro moved his production deal from Disney to DreamWorks Animation.
October 2011: Release of The Night Eternal
In October 2011, The Night Eternal, the final installment of The Strain trilogy co-authored by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, was released.
2011: Del Toro Reflects on Involuntary Exile
In a 2011 interview with Time magazine, Del Toro reflected on the kidnapping of his father in 1997, stating that it reminded him he was in "involuntary exile" from his country.
July 2013: Release of Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro, was released on July 12, 2013. The film grossed $411 million at the box office.
September 2013: Filming of The Strain Pilot Episode
In September 2013, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan filmed "Night Zero", the pilot episode of The Strain, a vampire horror television series based on their novel trilogy, in Toronto.
November 2013: FX Orders The Strain Series
On November 19, 2013, FX ordered a thirteen-episode first season for The Strain, based on the novel trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.
February 2014: Production Begins on Crimson Peak
In February 2014, production began on Crimson Peak, a gothic horror film co-written by Guillermo del Toro, in Toronto.
July 2014: Premiere of The Strain Series
On July 13, 2014, The Strain series, based on the novel trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, premiered.
April 2015: Initial Release Date Planned for Crimson Peak
In April 2015, the initial release date was planned for Guillermo del Toro's film Crimson Peak.
October 2015: Crimson Peak Release
In October 2015, Crimson Peak was released, coinciding with the Halloween season.
August 2016: Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters Exhibition Begins in Los Angeles
On August 1, 2016, the Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibition began at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and ran through Nov 2016.
August 2016: Filming Begins on The Shape of Water
On August 15, 2016, filming began in Toronto for The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro.
Nov 2016: Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters Exhibition Ends in Los Angeles
In Nov 2016, the Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibition ended its run at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
2016: Trollhunters Released
From 2016 to 2018, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia was released to great acclaim on Netflix.
2016: Del Toro Discusses Mexican Catholic Dogma
In 2016, during an interview for his book and exhibition "Guillermo del Toro at Home with Monsters", Del Toro discussed his difficulty reconciling Mexican Catholic dogma with his darker worldview, finding solace in the imperfection represented by monsters.
March 2017: Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters Exhibition Opens in Minneapolis
On March 5, 2017, the Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibition opened at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and ran to May 2017.
May 2017: Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters Exhibition Ends in Minneapolis
In May 2017, the Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibition ended its run at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
August 2017: The Shape of Water Premieres at Venice International Film Festival
On August 31, 2017, The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro, premiered in the main competition section of the 74th Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Golden Lion for best film.
September 2017: Divorce from Lorenza Newton
In September 2017, Guillermo del Toro divorced Lorenza Newton, his wife since 1986. The couple had two daughters together.
September 2017: Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters Exhibition Opens in Toronto
On September 30, 2017, the Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibition opened at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto and ran to January 2018.
November 2017: Pinocchio Project Cancelled
In November 2017, del Toro reportedly cancelled the "Pinocchio" project because no studios were willing to finance it after more than a decade in development. This marked a significant challenge in bringing his vision to life.
December 2017: Directing Nightmare Alley
In December 2017, Searchlight Pictures announced that Guillermo del Toro would direct a new adaptation of the 1946 novel Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham, the screenplay of which he co-wrote with his future wife Kim Morgan.
January 2018: Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters Exhibition Ends in Toronto
In January 2018, the Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibition ended its run at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.
June 2018: Executive Producer of The Witches Remake
On June 19, 2018, it was announced that Guillermo Del Toro and Alfonso Cuarón would instead be attached as executive producers on the remake of Roald Dahl's The Witches, with Robert Zemeckis helming the project and writing.
October 2018: Pinocchio Film Revived
In October 208, Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" film was revived with Netflix backing the project after being cancelled in November 2017. Mark Gustafson replaced Adam Parrish King as co-director.
2018: Trollhunters Release Ends
From 2016 to 2018, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia was released to great acclaim on Netflix and ended its run.
2019: Appearance in Death Stranding
In 2019, Guillermo del Toro appeared in Hideo Kojima's video game Death Stranding, providing his likeness for the character Deadman.
2019: Del Toro Funds Mexican Teams' Flights to International Mathematical Olympiad
In 2019, del Toro paid for the flights of the Mexican teams to attend the 60th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in South Africa and the United Kingdom, after the Mexican chapter of the IMO announced the government had suspended financing for the youngsters.
2019: Cast of Nightmare Alley
In 2019, it was reported that Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette and Rooney Mara had closed deals to star in the film Nightmare Alley, directed by Guillermo del Toro.
January 2020: Production of Nightmare Alley Begins
In January 2020, the film Nightmare Alley, directed by Guillermo del Toro, went into production.
May 2020: Opposition to Morena Proposal
In May 2020, del Toro joined other filmmakers in opposing a Morena proposal that abolished the Fondo de Inversión y Estímulos al Cine (Fidecine), which provided subsidies to the Mexican film industry.
December 2021: Release of Nightmare Alley
In December 2021, Guillermo del Toro's film Nightmare Alley was released to positive reviews but was a box office failure.
2021: Marriage to Kim Morgan
In 2021, Guillermo del Toro married Kim Morgan, an American film historian formerly married to Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin. This marked a new chapter in his personal life.
October 2022: Pinocchio Premieres at BFI London Film Festival
On October 15, 2022, "Pinocchio" premiered at the BFI London Film Festival before its theatrical and Netflix release. This marked a significant milestone for the long-awaited project.
November 2022: UNAM Awards Honoris Causa Doctorate to Del Toro
In November 2022, UNAM awarded Del Toro the Honoris Causa Doctorate for his "contributions to culture and his support for the youth". This recognition highlights his impact beyond filmmaking.
November 2022: Del Toro Criticizes Mexican Government's Handling of Cinema Funding
In November 2022, the Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences postponed the 65th Ariel Awards due to a financial crisis. Del Toro criticized the López Obrador administration's "systematic destruction of Mexican cinema" and offered to finance the statuettes.
February 2023: Del Toro to Reteam with Netflix and ShadowMachine
In February 2023, it was announced that del Toro would reteam with Netflix and ShadowMachine on the stop-motion film "The Buried Giant". Del Toro also expressed frustration over project rejections and plans to transition to animation.
March 2023: Del Toro to Direct Frankenstein Film
In March 2023, it was confirmed that Del Toro would next direct his long in-development Frankenstein film, now based at Netflix. Del Toro considers this movie a cycle closure.
September 2023: Ariel Awards Ceremony Funded Externally
On September 9, 2023, the 65th Ariel Awards ceremony took place in Guadalajara, Jalisco, funded externally after Del Toro's offer to finance the statuettes. This followed the postponement of the event in November 2022 due to a financial crisis.
September 2024: Del Toro Expresses Skepticism About AI in Filmmaking
In September 2024, del Toro told the British Film Institute that he is highly skeptical of AI in filmmaking, stating that it can only do semi-compelling screensavers, and adding that art requires a certain risk to be in its presence. Also, del Toro expressed his disinterest and skepticism in generative AI in film saying "I'd rather die."
October 17, 2025: Frankenstein Film Limited Theatrical Release
On October 17, 2025, the Frankenstein film by Del Toro saw a limited theatrical release, with Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi starring as Victor Frankenstein and The Creature, respectively.
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