Ichikawa Zoo / The Bride! (YouTube)
Christian Bale has compared Frankenstein’s Monster from the new film The Bride! to Punch, the viral baby monkey who has taken the internet by storm.
Speaking to BuzzFeed UK, Bale said the iconic monster shares a surprising emotional similarity with the young macaque whose story has captured millions online.
During the interview, Bale explained that Frankenstein’s Monster is driven by the same emotional need that audiences have seen in videos of Punch.
“[Frankenstein’s Monster] needs to have a companion, even if it’s someone that sits on the log next to him and never speaks,” said Bale.
“He just needs someone, you know, like a poor little monkey in a lab that’s kept by himself. Like little Punch with the orangutan. Little Punch, you can do it! That’s all he needs, that’s what Frank’s thinking.”
Punch has become an internet sensation after clips of the baby macaque living at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo began circulating online. In the videos, the tiny monkey is often seen clinging to a stuffed toy orangutan that zookeepers placed in his enclosure after his mother abandoned him.
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The touching footage quickly went viral, and viewers from around the world have been drawn to Punch’s small size, expressive face, and attachment to his IKEA plushie companion.
Scientists have also weighed in on the phenomenon, with a researcher from Oxford University professor explaining why we react so strongly to Punch’s story.
Bale’s comparison came while promoting The Bride!, the upcoming monster film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The movie is a new take on the classic Frankenstein story and is set to star Bale as Frankenstein’s monster.
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Gyllenhaal’s version features a major ensemble cast, including Jessie Buckley as the Bride, Peter Sarsgaard as Det. Jake Wiles, Penelope Cruz as Myrna Mallow, and Bale as the tragic monster. The Bride! will release in theatres on 6 March 2026.
