For many decades, the U.K. based Hammer Films was one of the biggest names in horror, producing many iconic monster movies, including a string ofDraculaandFrankensteinfilms starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. They are looking to get behind their first movie in three years as they board a new take onDr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde,starringEddie Izzard. Newly created Hammer Studios have bought the U.K. rights to the movie, a modern interpretation of the Robert Louis Stevenson story about a scientist who unleashes his murderous alter-ego.
Doctor Jekyllis currently filming in the U.K. and will be the first movie released byHammer Studios Ltd following the deal between U.K. Network Distributing and Hammer Films in 2021, which created the new company. Starring Eddie Izzard as Dr. Nina Jekyll, the story will center on her friendship with a hired helper, Rob (Scott Chambers), who together must try and stop the doctor’s alternative persona from wrecking her life. The film is directed by Joe Stephenson and written by first-timer Dan Kelly-Mulhern.
Hammer Films effectively ceased production in the 1980s after many years producing horror movies, but after being bought by a consortium, the studio was resurrected and released several successful films, includingLet Me In, The Residentand the Daniel Radcliffe-led movieThe Woman in Black. In late 2021 it was announced that U.K. Network Distributing would be taking over the company to create a new company, Hammer Studios. Given their history with several classic literary novels, it is appropriate that one of the classic tales of horror should be their first project.
Many iterations ofDoctor Jekyll and Mr. Hydewere brought to life on screen over the last 100 years, and Eddie Izzard was happy to announce her involvement in the female-led take on the story. While the story will likely not stray too far from the original storyline, it will be yet another interpretation that has so far produced some classic takes as well acting as inspiration for more outlandish versions such asThe Nutty Professor. With Hammer Studios on board this one, it is fair to assume that the emphasis will be squarely on horror this time out.
“I am very excited to be playing the role of Nina Jekyll in this new feature film, and it’s wonderful to be able to reimagine this classic story in a modern way,” Izzard said last month. “I developed my comedy career up to a certain point, and then I put a block on the top of my career, and went to the bottom of the dramatic mountain, and started going up this separate drama mountain.”
Director Joe Stephenson added: “I’m thrilled that Eddie is joining us as my Nina Jekyll. With her being the extraordinary and versatile actress she is, playing against Scott’s natural talent to make us believe in the good in people, I can’t wait to bring this suspenseful take on the iconic classic to life.”
Izzard has had a long career in stand-out comedy but has recently been seen in Dan Brown seriesThe Lost Symbol, and in the Netflix adaptation of the Harlan Coben novelStay Close. Previously, she has had minor roles in a number of T.V. shows and movies and dropped in on many celebrity panel shows and reality series.
