First look at Eddie Izzard as Dr Nina Jekyll in ‘modern reimagining’ of classic horror film
A new poster has offered fans their first glimpse of Eddie Izzard in Doctor Jekyll. (Getty/Tristan Fewings)
A new poster has offered fans the first glimpse of Eddie Izzard as Dr Nina Jekyll in the “modern” twist on the horror classic.
Izzard took the leading role in Doctor Jekyll which is a “modern reinterpretation” by Hammer Studio/B Good Picture Company of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde.
The new poster shows Jekyll’s silhouette, who is depicted with long hair, as she poses in front of a brightly lit window. But the character casts a menacing and frankly extremely spooky shadow onto the floor – which obviously alludes to Dr Jekyll’s evil alter ego, Hyde.
First look poster for Doctor Jekyll, starring Eddie Izzard. (TimeTomorrow)
The film will follow the reclusive Jekyll as she builds a friendship with her new employee Rob, played by Malevolent star Scott Chambers. But the two soon discover the existence of Hyde and desperately stop the murderous doppelgänger from destroying Jekyll’s life.
It’s definitely a new perspective on the Victorian era classic and will also bring together the extraordinary acting talents of Lindsay Duncan, Jonathan Hyde and Simon Callow.
The project, which is now in post-production in the UK, is helmed by Chicken director Joe Stephenson and is developed from a script written by newcomer Dan Kelly-Mulhern.
Eddie Izzard previously said back in February, when the Lost Symbol star was announced as the lead, that it was a “wonderful” opportunity to be able play Jekyll and to “reimagine this classic story in a modern way”.
Stephenson described Izzard as an “extraordinary and versatile actress” who would be able to embody the role in an amazing way and could play against Chamber’s “natural talent to make us believe in the good in people”.
The director also promised the film would be a “suspenseful take” which would bring the “iconic classic to life” – which is a tall order as the original source material was downright terrifying.
There is no word yet when the film will hit theatres, but Metro International Entertainment is currently selling Doctor Jekyll at the Cannes Film Festival. This year’s festival opened on Tuesday (17 May) and closes on 28 May.
