Guillermo Del Toro Begins Principal Photography on ‘The Shape of Water’

Principal photography began Monday in Toronto for Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming romance drama fantasy film The Shape of Water. Del Toro is also penning the film with Vanessa Taylor, whose résumé includes co-writing the screenplay for Divergent and writing some episodes of Game of Thrones.

“It feels like we have an embarrassment of riches on this film. An ensemble of incredible actors who are working at the very top of their craft, a wildly original story from Guillermo’s one-of-a-kind mind, and the brilliant team at Fox Searchlight to shepherd us along. We’re all very excited to see how far we can take it,” J. Miles Dale, who is producing the film with del Toro, said in Fox Searchlight’s press release.

“I started working on The Shape of Water right around the time we moved to Toronto for Pacific Rim. Working with Fox Searchlight and being supported by this beautiful group of actors and artists, I feel extremely blessed and brave,” del Toro also stated in the press release.

The film, which is set in 1963 during the Cold War, stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer.

A release date has not yet been set.