The director behind The Shape of Water and Frankenstein joins the Academy Museum governing board as the institution moves into its next phase.

Guillermo del Toro has been appointed to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures' Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2026, according to Variety. The Mexican-born filmmaker joins Broadway producer John Gore and veteran film producer Gale Anne Hurd as the institution's newest trustees.

Del Toro arrives at one of the more consequential moments of his career. His most recent film, Frankenstein, earned nine Oscar nominations and three wins, adding to a filmography that has accumulated 11 Academy Awards in total. The Shape of Water won him Best Picture and Best Director in 2018. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio claimed Best Animated Feature in 2023.

Gale Anne Hurd, whose producing credits include Aliens, The Abyss, Armageddon, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, previously served on the Academy's Board of Governors. John Gore, founder of John Gore Studios, holds 27 Tony Awards and has appeared on Variety's list of the 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in Media for five consecutive years.

The Academy Museum, located in Los Angeles, is home to the world's largest collection of cinema artifacts. The institution said the new trustees' "diverse perspectives will help continue to expand the museum's impact around the world."