Universal Pictures isn't done with the retelling of the classic novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" as not only are they developing a version from the mind of Guillermo del Toro, but have just tapped Keanu Reeves (Matrix, Constantine) to topline Jekyll, a modern retelling to be directed by Nicolas Winding Refn - the man behind the Sundance Film selection Bronson that was recently acquired by Magnolia Pictures. You can read about this massive tale of madness beyond the break.
Universal is developing a modern retelling of the classic novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," with Keanu Reeves attached to star and Justin Haythe, writer of "Revolutionary Road," penning the script, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Nicolas Winding Refn is in negotiations to direct the project, titled "Jekyll." It is being produced by Erwin Stoff and Red Wagon Entertainment's Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher.
Robert Louis Stevenson's tale about a doctor who scientifically develops an evil self has become so pervasive in popular culture that the phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" conjures the idea of a split personality. The story has been translated to the screen and stage dozens of times, with several deviations including comedy, kids ("Jekyll and Heidi") and gender (1995's "Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde"). The story has seen modern iterations as recently as 2007, when the BBC aired a miniseries with the story set in the present as Hyde ran amok in London.
Plot details for this "Jekyll" are being kept locked in the laboratory.
Universal clearly is enamored with the tale as it also has been developing a take on it with Guillermo del Toro, though the two couldn't be more different.
Del Toro, who has an affinity for gothic horror as well as creature features, aims to stick more closely to the Stevenson tale. Also, del Toro's project is on the slow track as the filmmaker works on "The Hobbit" for New Line and MGM, which is expected to take up the next five years. Even when he comes back, he likely will tackle one or two other Universal projects before his version, so a good amount of time will exist between the projects.
maybe Keanu will surprise everyone but i doubt it. PLEAAAASE do NOT have him "have" an accent. his GOD AWFUL attempt at an accent in DRACULA (along with Winona's...blech) basically ruined that movie (along with their "acting").
Keanu 'The Plank' Reeves is the obvious choice to portray the two very different sides of a character who displays a wide range of human emotions during the course of the story.
"Vampires". Let us remember that, sometimes, when a movie kicks as much ass as Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', not even the likes of Keanu can kill it. Can this be done again? Looking at Refn's imdb and noting that Universal is releasing it...I won't keep my hopes up
Let's hope for the best, I would rather have seen this role go to Edward Norton then Keanu but maybe he can pull it off. Look at Jim Carey in the number 26, not a bad job.
Wow. Sorry, but Keanu Reeves has neither the breadth nor depth of acting talent to pull off Jekyll and Hyde. It needs to be someone capable of acting as both a charming gentlemen and a raging psycopath. Christian Bale reprising his role from American Psycho?
Dracula sucked. The only reason people get confused and think its good is because oldman is a great actor. The thing was filmed like a fcken play. And keanu with english or whatever accent he thought he had was the worst acting I have ever seen.
Dear god, WTF are they thinking. He cannot act for god's sake and they want him to play 2 different characters. He cant even play one character believably. Remember his coughing in constantine. Well expect more of that in the transformation scenes.
This movie has been done SO many times in the past decade, Im surprised. I didnt see anything wrong with Keanu in Dracula - he was playing a simple dullard. But I fail to see what this is going to offer people. Oldman doing anything is always interesting in itself - maybe he could have made this more attractive...
the jokes about keanu and the bill and teds movie are really fucking stale and lame at this point. its not funny and a stupid point to try and bring up, he's not an Oscar nominated actor for a reason, keanu isn't great, but i wouldnt let him ruin a movie for me. I say give this to Edward Norton though...
Benecio Del Toro, theres your man.
Wait, what about Edward Furlong
Scratch that, Eddie Murphy
No, no, no... Charlton Heston , oh wait ...he's dead
fuck it, I'm out of ideas.
Consider this though, Keanu could probably beat the shit out of all of us combined, like when he stopped those bulle...wait, that was a movie...DAMN YOU HOLLYWOOD, DAMN YOU!
He'll be great. He'll probably be 90 by the time Del Toro is finished with the script.
Who was involved in casting this movie? You've got to be a moron to hire the most two-dimensional actor in America to play a character like Dr Jekyll...
I love Keanu. So there. You know you all loved the Matrix... (the first one anyhow)
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