ITV announces Frankenstein remake

Boris Karloff played the monster in the seminal 1931 film version

ITV is to re-make Mary Shelley's gothic horror story Frankenstein.

Jed Mercurio, the writer behind medical dramas Bodies and Cardiac Arrest, is working on the new version, which will be set in the 21st century.

The monster, created as a result of genetic engineering, will be played by an actor but the performance will be enhanced by special effects.

Laura Mackie, ITV's controller of network drama, said Frankenstein "lends itself to a contemporary adaptation."

She added that the 1818 novel was "a universal and enduring story".

The tale has been the subject of many adaptations, including the BBC's Birth of a Monster in 2003 and Kenneth Branagh's 1994 film, starring Robert De Niro.

No transmission date has been given for the ITV version and casting has not yet been announced.

The programme is being produced by Tim Haines, whose previous projects include BBC One's Walking With Dinosaurs.