Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
20 facts you might not know about 'The Shape of Water'
Fox Searchlight Pictures

20 facts you might not know about 'The Shape of Water'

How does one describe The Shape of Water? Other than in the flippant way many do, which is to call it “That movie where the lady and the fish man get it on." There’s a lot of homage and a lot of originality in the film. It certainly struck a chord with some filmgoers, given the success it had. We’ve pored over some facts about The Shape of Water to deliver you 20 of the ones we found the most interesting.

 
1 of 20

Guillermo del Toro got the idea from a childhood wish

Guillermo del Toro got the idea from a childhood wish
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Del Toro directed and cowrote (with Vanessa Taylor) this film, and it stems back to his childhood. A longtime fan of monster movies, del Toro remembered watching the classic Creature from the Black Lagoon. However, he wished that Gill-Man (a.k.a. the creature) and the lead female character Kay Lawrence had been able to get together. That served as the seed from which The Shape of Water grew.

 
2 of 20

Del Toro had actually wanted to do this with the Creature

Del Toro had actually wanted to do this with the Creature
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Evidently, there was a time when Universal was hoping del Toro would in fact direct a remake of Creature of the Black Lagoon. He took this opportunity to pitch them on his idea of a love story between Gill-Man and the female lead. Universal politely declined this concept.

 
3 of 20

The director set it in the past for a reason

The director set it in the past for a reason
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Del Toro wanted to address modern themes and current issues with The Shape of Water. However, he decided to set his film in 1962. By doing this, the director hoped to create a movie that could be a “fairytale” that allowed people to get lost in the story, since it wasn’t set in the present day.

 
4 of 20

Del Toro really wanted Sally Hawkins for the lead

Del Toro really wanted Sally Hawkins for the lead
Fox Searchlight Pictures

For the part of Elisa, del Toro had one actress in mind: Sally Hawkins. In fact, he even wrote the film with her in mind for the main character. Both del Toro and Hawkins were at the 2014 Golden Globes, and with some liquid courage flowing through him, del Toro approached the actor to tell her that he wanted her for this film.

 
5 of 20

Hawkins studied up on silent performers for her role

Hawkins studied up on silent performers for her role
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Elisa is mute, and thus Hawkins could not communicate what her character was feeling with her words or her voice. To prepare for the role, Hawkins watched actors like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin — silent stars who also couldn’t use to their voices to express themselves. In particular, del Toro recommended she watch Stan Laurel for inspiration.

 
6 of 20

The Amphibian Man was a longtime del Toro collaborator

The Amphibian Man was a longtime del Toro collaborator
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Del Toro is a big fan of the work of Doug Jones. You’ve likely see Jones’ work, though you may have never seen his face. Jones is one of those actors hired for his physicality, often hidden behind makeup and costumes. However, del Toro has implemented Jones' particular skills many time over. He has roles in Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, and other del Toro films.

 
7 of 20

Jones hit the dance floor to prepare

Jones hit the dance floor to prepare
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Jones was worried about being a romantic lead, but he also had to worry about the physical portrayal of the Amphibian Man, which is his bread and butter. The actor wanted to embody a creature who didn’t move like any creature he had seen in movies before. To prepare, Jones went to a dance studio and worked on his movements. Ultimately, Jones was inspired by matadors for his physicality.

 
8 of 20

Del Toro wanted a legendary actor for Giles

Del Toro wanted a legendary actor for Giles
Fox Searchlight Pictures

For the part of Elisa’s neighbor and friend Giles, del Toro was hoping to get Ian McKellen. This was in part because McKellen had played James Whale in Gods and Monsters, and Whale directed horror classics like Frankenstein and The Invisible Man. Additionally, Whale was a closeted gay man, like Giles. When McKellen was unavailable, del Toro turned to Richard Jenkins.

 
9 of 20

Del Toro and Michael Shannon put Shannon’s character in an interesting framing

Del Toro and Michael Shannon put Shannon’s character in an interesting framing
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Shannon was excited to take the role of Richard Strickland after talking to del Toro. What hooked him about their conversation was that del Toro framed Strickland by saying if The Shape of Water had been made in the 1950s, he would have been the main character and the hero. That idea intrigued Shannon enough to sign on.

 
10 of 20

The movie was shot in Canada

The movie was shot in Canada
Fox Searchlight Pictures

While The Shape of Water is set in Baltimore, Maryland, they shot the movie in Ontario, Canada. One key location in the film is actually a combination of two Toronto buildings. The inside of the Orpheum, the movie theater in the film, is the inside of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres. The exterior, though, is Massey Hall.

 
11 of 20

Del Toro went back and forth on how he’s film the movie

Del Toro went back and forth on how he’s film the movie
Fox Searchlight Pictures

The director wasn’t sure if he wanted to make a color film or a black-and-white movie. As a throwback film that in a lot of ways pays homage to Creature from the Black Lagoon, black-and-white would have made sense. Fox Searchlight made del Toro an offer. He could shoot the movie in black-and-white with a $17 million budget, or shoot in color with a $20 million budget. Ultimately, del Toro opted for color.

 
12 of 20

Its premiere went over well

Its premiere went over well
Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Shape of Water had its premiere in competition at the Venice International Film Festival, probably only second to Cannes when it comes to film festivals. It was a big success there. In fact, the movie won the Golden Lion, which Venice gives to the best film in the competition.

 
13 of 20

The movie was a box office success

The movie was a box office success
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Made for $20 million (as we noted), The Shape of Water proved a strong return on investment. The film made $63.9 in the United States and Canada alone, and made $195.2 million worldwide. Although, a good chunk of that was an Oscar boost.

 
14 of 20

It got a ton of Oscar nominations

It got a ton of Oscar nominations
Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Shape of Water is in many ways a throwback movie, and it has a hint of the “love letter to Hollywood” to it. The Academy has a history of eating that up — shout out to The Artist — and this was no different. The movie got a whopping 13 Oscar nominations. Only three films have ever gotten more, and they all got exactly 14.

 
15 of 20

And it won the big one

And it won the big one
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Out of those 13 nominations, The Shape of Water won four. They were all pretty impressive categories, too. It won for Best Production Design and Best Original Score, but it also took home arguably the two biggest awards there are. Del Toro won for Best Director, and the movie took home Best Picture.

 
16 of 20

It got a few plagiarism accusations

It got a few plagiarism accusations
Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Shape of Water was accused of plagiarism on multiple fronts. French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the director of Amelie among other movies, accused del Toro of ripping him off. There were also accusations that the movie plagiarized the 1962 Soviet film Amphibian Man. One instance was litigious, though. The estate of late author Paul Zindel filed a lawsuit claiming the film plagiarized Zindel’s teleplay Let Me Hear You Whisper. The suit was dismissed later the same year, and in 2021, Zindel’s estate acknowledged that The Shape of Water was not plagiarized.

 
17 of 20

Del Toro went deep on his characters

Del Toro went deep on his characters
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Del Toro really did his work on his characters for The Shape of Water. He wrote lengthy backstories for all the main characters. Like, over 40 pages. Del Toro then gave them to the actors, telling them to use them as they saw fit. Reportedly, Michael Stuhlbarg made a lot of use of the intel, while Jenkins didn’t use his at all.

 
18 of 20

Hawkins spent a lot of time in water for a minute there

Hawkins spent a lot of time in water for a minute there
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Hawkins was shooting underwater scenes at the end of her time filming The Shape of Water, which was of course quite demanding. Then, it was off to shoot Paddington 2, surely a less-demanding production, right? Well, on the first day of shooting Paddington 2, Hawkins found herself filming…underwater scenes.

 
19 of 20

Elisa’s last name provides some backstory

Elisa’s last name provides some backstory
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Hawkins’ character's name is Elisa Esposito. Esposito is an Italian last name that means “exposed.” It was the surname often given to foundlings, children left on the doorsteps of orphanages, and so on. This gives us a hint as to what Elisa’s childhood consisted of.

 
20 of 20

Octavia Spencer had a great time

Octavia Spencer had a great time
Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Oscar-winning actress really wanted to work with del Toro. She told Deadline that "sight-unseen — I’ve been a fan of [del Toro's] for decades — I was in.” On top of that, she apparently loved being on set, and the production design. Spencer reportedly asked del Toro how many things from the set she could take home with her.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Packers' Josh Jacobs speaks out on Matt LaFleur’s unclear plan
NFL

Packers' Josh Jacobs speaks out on Matt LaFleur’s unclear plan

There is no denying who the alpha is in the Green Bay Packers running back room. After burning rubber for 1,329 rushing yards to go with 15 rushing touchdowns on 301 carries in the 2024 NFL season, Jacobs is expected to carry most of the load again in the Packers’ ground attack in 2025. Besides being a reliable and effective weapon on offense for the Packers, Jacobs was also durable in his first season with the team, having appeared in all of Green Bay’s 17 games in the regular season and in the lone contest in the NFL playoffs. Look for the 27-year-old former Alabama Crimson Tide star running back to be there starting in the backfield along with quarterback Jordan Love in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. But as for his availability and usage in this coming Saturday’s preseason opener at home versus the New York Jets, it won’t be surprising if he gets zero snaps at all, considering that there’s really nothing important on the line. Jacobs is ready whenever he’s called upon by the Green Bay Packers Jacobs said on Thursday that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has yet to convey a concrete plan for the Jets game. Nevertheless, he’ll be ready. Via Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers’ official website: Jacobs is on board with whatever direction LaFleur and the coaches decide to go but said wouldn’t mind getting “a couple series” to reacclimate to tackling. “We’ll see how it’ll play out,” Jacobs said. “(LaFleur) hasn’t really told us what we’re gonna do. But I think I’ll get a couple hits, get a little feel of it and be cool.” The Packers will also play the Indianapolis Colts on the road in Week 2 of the preseason before meeting the Seattle Seahawks for their final assignment before the regular season starts.

Rasmus Andersson Turns Down Huge Long-Term Offer from an NHL Team
NHL

Rasmus Andersson Turns Down Huge Long-Term Offer from an NHL Team

Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson is entering the final year of his six-year, $4.55 million AAV contract, and uncertainty surrounds his future. Speaking with Sweden’s Expressen, Andersson shot down false rumors about where he’s willing to go, and revealed he turned down a lucrative long-term offer from another NHL team. All of this took place roughly six weeks ago, says the blueliner. He cited family reasons as to why he’s being particular about his next move. Still, as picky as he might be, rumors he’s only willing to go to Vegas are not true. “But I have not given Calgary a team, that I only want to play with one team,” he said. “That is not true…” He did get an offer from another team, likely not the Golden Knights. “I wasn’t keen on moving my family there and signing a long-term contract,” Andersson explained, adding that he provided the Flames with a list of teams he’d consider signing with if traded. However, the team that offered him a deal wasn’t on that list. He explained, “I communicated that decision to Calgary. I said if you want to trade me, this is the number of teams I can think of signing for. But this wasn’t one of them.” The Flames and Andersson Aren’t Talking Any Longer Talks with Calgary have since gone silent. Speculation is that he’s not heard about a trade option or extension in over a month. Whether the Flames have stopped looking for now, or teams haven’t lined up with trade offers, it sounds like nothing is imminent. All that said, Andersson is expected to draw significant trade interest before the 2026 deadline if an extension isn’t reached. His situation will be one of Calgary’s most closely watched storylines this season.

Jaguars' Travis Hunter plays both sides of ball in preseason debut 
NFL

Jaguars' Travis Hunter plays both sides of ball in preseason debut 

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter is going to be one of the must-see stories in the NFL this season as he attempts to play both sides of the ball. It's going to be a daunting task in the NFL, but he got his first taste of it on Saturday night in the team's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hunter lined up as both a wide receiver and cornerback — just as he did throughout his college career — and produced some mixed results. Offensively, he lined up for nine snaps on the team's opening drive and caught two passes (on two targets) for nine yards, including a six-yard catch that came up just one yard short of the first-down line on a third-down play. The Jaguars' first-team offense was going up against a lineup featuring mostly Steelers backups, and their game plan seemed to focus more on short-quick passes than anything that would allow Hunter to get downfield or make any big plays. Defensively, Hunter lined up for five snaps at cornerback and did not have any passes go in his direction, while he also missed a potential tackle on a running play. Hunter was one of the best players in college football over the previous two seasons, playing both cornerback and wide receiver at an exceptionally high level. It was not uncommon for him to play over 100 snaps in a game. That performance resulted in him being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft class (with Jacksonville trading up to get him). He has every intention of playing both sides of the ball in the NFL, and the Jaguars seem inclined to let him try. It's not going to be easy, though. There is a massive difference in speed and physicality (not to mention quality of play) between college football and the NFL, and just because he was able to excel at both positions (and have the durability to play both) in the former does not mean he will be able to do so as effectively in the latter. He may have to limit himself on one side of the ball a little as the grind of a season wears on. If he does not have to limit himself, and if he is able to pull it off, it would make him one of the most valuable players in the NFL just based on the fact that he is two premium positions in one player.

Cowboys' Micah Parsons gives Giants' rookie pass-rusher the ultimate compliment
NFL

Cowboys' Micah Parsons gives Giants' rookie pass-rusher the ultimate compliment

Abdul Carter showed flashes of dominance in his preseason debut with the New York Giants on Saturday, and fellow pass-rusher Micah Parsons believes fans are going to see a lot more of that for years to come. Carter was disruptive on several plays at the line of scrimmage during the Giants' 34-25 win over the Buffalo Bills. He showed tremendous burst and appeared to get into the backfield with ease, and that was against Buffalo's first-team offense. On Sunday, Parsons shared a video on social media that showed Carter giving the Bills fits. Parsons also paid the rookie a massive compliment. "They asked me if Abdul could be a (sic) another great ! I told them he could be the best one!" Parsons wrote on X. Carter responded by telling Parsons he can't wait to see the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker "get paid what you EARNED!!" Parsons and Carter are both Penn State alumni. They each wore the No. 11, which is a famous jersey number for the Nittany Lions and has been worn by some of the best players in program history. Parsons, of course, has already established himself as one of the best defensive players in football. He is currently in a contract standoff with the Dallas Cowboys. Carter was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. If he lives up to expectations, he should be just as productive as Parsons in relatively short order.