Guillermo del Toro: Weinstein brothers almost destroyed me

By Jenny Garnsworthy, Press Association

Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro has spoken of how Harvey Weinstein and his producer brother “almost destroyed me” when they tried to fire him from his first US film.

In an interview with The Guardian, the Mexican filmmaker discussed how he has often turned offers of work down during his long-running career, but had his heart set on making the film.

Del Toro, who was honoured with the British Film Institute (BFI) fellowship earlier this week, spoke of making his English-language debut, 1997 horror movie Mimic.

It was widely reported that producers Harvey and Bob Weinstein had clashed with del Toro due to creative differences, and the brothers had tried to fire him from the project.

Del Toro, 61, told The Guardian: “The Weinsteins almost destroyed me.

“I was on the verge of being unbankable and un-hirable. But I would have died for Mimic.

“I have always made it a point to never make a movie I don’t absolutely adore. I’ve been offered a lot of work for hire and I’ve refused it.”

Del Toro was recognised with the highest honour bestowed by the BFI for his body of work that includes Oscar-winning films The Shape Of Water, Pinocchio and Pan’s Labyrinth, as well as Hellboy, Crimson Peak and Pacific Rim.

I believe there is something art does that nothing else canGuillermo del Toro

His most recent film Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi, was released last year and won multiple Oscars and Baftas.

He told The Guardian that his love of cinema started when he was a boy in Mexico, where he formed his own film society.

“I was the projectionist, the ticket seller and the debate master,” he told the newspaper.

“I would introduce the movie then project it and be back afterwards for the Q&A. I was only young but I was already a film critic on the radio.”

He added: “I think art cannot make huge lateral changes but we can correct each other’s lives by small degrees. And I believe there is something art does that nothing else can.

“What David Fincher does in (2007 film) Zodiac is beyond my understanding.

“I don’t know how he does it. There is a mystery to cinema. I hope it never goes away.”