Christian Bale debuts shock Frankenstein transformation with gory stitches and prosthetics in haunting first look stills from The Bride with Jessie Buckley

Christian Bale debuted his shock Frankenstein transformation in haunting first look images from new film, The Bride.

The Oscar-winning actor, 50, sported gory stitches across his forehead and chest, along with facial prosthetics in the monstrous image - which saw him flash his tattooed chest in an open shirt and scarf.

The film will be directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal who shared the images from a recent camera test for the movie.

Bale will star alongside Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley, 34, who showed off her own gothic look as The Bride with a platinum blonde wig and smeared black lipstick. 

Annette Bening, Penelope Cruz and Gyllenhaal's husband, Peter Sarsgaard will also star in Gyllenhaal's directorial debut.

Christian Bale debuted his shock Frankenstein transformation in haunting first look images from new film, The Bride

Bale will star alongside Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley, 34, who showed off her own gothic look as The Bride with a platinum blonde wig and smeared black lipstick

The film marks a reunion for Bale and Gyllenhaal who starred alongside one another in 2008's Batman film The Dark Knight.

Production is believed to be starting soon, with Bale mentioning he was going bald for the role during his groundbreaking ceremony for the California foster homes.

'I've got to shave my head next week [for a movie]. I asked them to please let me hold off on doing that but everyone was going, "What’s wrong with Bale? What’s up with him?"' Bale said.

'I said, "Just let me get through the groundbreaking and then I’ll be off to join you,"' Bale said, adding he was starting preparations soon.

'I’ll be working with the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessie Buckley and so many talented actors in the cast,' he said.

'I’ve got to get busy getting on the rack, breaking my bones and eating lots of fertilizer or something to try and grow,' Bale joked.

The actor is no stranger to rigorous preparations, famously losing over 60 pounds to play the emaciated Trevor Reznik in 2004's The Machinist. 

He also had to put all that weight back on again to star in 2005's Batman Begins, and he also lost another 30 pounds to play Dicky Eklund in 2010's The Fighter.

Bale most recently lent his voice to the English version of the beloved Japanese animated film The Boy and the Heron.

The film will be directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal who shared the images from a recent camera test for the movie

Bale showcased his bald head transformation for the role as he stepped out in New York's West Village with wife Sibi Blažić on Monday

The film marks a reunion for Bale and Gyllenhaal who starred alongside one another in 2008's Batman film The Dark Knight - pictured 2008 with Gary Oldman and Michael Caine

He's also set to star in The Church of Living Dangerously, based on the true story of John Lee Bishop, a mega-church pastor who ended up running drugs for a Mexican cartel.

He was ultimately caught at the border in 2017 and convicted, sentenced to five years in prison in 2018, though he only served three and was released in 2021.