Director Joe Stephenson offers us a modern interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella. Take a look at the Doctor Jekyll trailer.
An unfinished cut of Doctor Jekyll recently screened at FrightFest, but audiences around the UK can feast on this Gothic treat at the end of October.
Eddie Izzard stars as Nina Jekyll and Rachel Hyde in this modern adaptation of the classic novella. Some might call this a gender-swapped adaptation, but we call it a modern interpretation.
Take a look at the Doctor Jekyll trailer below.
Doctor Jekyll feels particularly suited for Hammer Horror, the legendary British film production company founded in 1934. The company was acquired by John Gore earlier this year and Doctor Jekyll represents their first foray into this new era.
Acclaimed comedian and actress Izzard follows in the footsteps of actors such as Fredrich March, John Barrymore and Russell Crowe in portraying the dual role of Jekyll and Hyde.
Here, Jekyll is reimagined as Nina Jekyll, a reclusive ex- pharmaceutical mogul, and her evil counterpart, Rachel Hyde. Scott Chambers’ Rob is the audience’s eyes into the story as he is hired to care for Nina.
Stephenson spoke to Fangoria earlier this year, defending their take on the classic story.
“There’ve been over 100 cinematic adaptations of Stevenson’s novella, but there has never been a trans Dr. Jekyll,” Stephenson noted. “There seem to be some assumptions that because Nina is a trans character, we are somehow going to make it about gender. That is not the case; the themes of our film are true to the original work.”
The cast of Doctor Jekyll is rounded out by Robyn Cara, Morgan Watkins, Jonathan Hyde, Simon Callow, and Lindsay Duncan.
Here’s the official synopsis: “An isolated mansion, a mysterious locked room, creepy corridors, a dusty cellar and a mad doctor… Hammer horror is back with a modern reimagining of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. When ex-convict Rob takes the carer position to the infamous Nina Jekyll, little does he know he’s part of an evil master plan devised by her alter ego Rachel Hyde. But to what lengths will Rob go to satisfy his client’s weird wishes and his own ambitions for the daughter he has never even seen?”
Doctor Jekyll looks to be a Halloween treat for UK viewers as it will be in cinemas 27 October.
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