The iconic Doctor Jekyll will appear in cinemas! We will see it in a slightly different version – Suzy Eddie Izzard will appear in the main role. Watch the production trailer!
Hammer Horror returns with a trailer for Doctor Jekyll , the new film starring comedian and actor Eddie Izzard in the titular role of Nina Jekyll. The film also stars Scott Chambers, Lindsay Duncan, Simon Callow, Jonathan Hyde, Morgan Watkins and Robyn Cara. Described as “a fresh, horror-packed take on a timeless tale, this adaptation promises to send shivers down your spine.”
Hammer, a notorious B-movie studio, had been a shadow of its former self for years, reduced to a dormant brand until an investor came along in 2008 and bought it, spawning films like Let Me In and The Mountain House in the following years. However, in August it was announced that they were under new ownership and had an aggressive slate of upcoming releases. In the case of Doctor Jekyll , it seems like the studio is making a real effort to promote its own name. “Hammer” appears prominently in the trailer and on the film’s promotional covers.
For Izzard’s part, this is the first role she has played since revealing in May that her name would be Suzy, although she remains known professionally as Eddie Izzard , as that is the name she made famous. Most of Izzard’s previous acting roles were characters who presented as men (including the superhero comedy Mystery Men and the Image Comics adaptation of The Force). She has worn women’s clothes on stage throughout her comedy career, saying she identifies as genderfluid and uses transgender as an “umbrella term”.
There’s one more name I’m going to add, which is Suzy, which I’ve wanted to be since I was 10 years old. So I’ll be Suzy Eddie Izzard. This is the way I’m going to roll so people can choose what they want.
Izzard said on The Political Party podcast in May.
Doctor Jekyll movie trailer
It’s unclear whether Dr. Jekyll was created with Izzard in mind, but director Joe Stephenson has previously said that a trans version of Dr. Jekyll was part of the appeal of this version, but not necessarily in the way audiences might expect.
There have been over 100 film adaptations of Stevenson’s novella, but never a trans Dr. Jekyll. There seems to be some assumption that because Nina is a trans character that we will somehow make it about gender. This is not the case. The themes of our film are faithful to the original work.
Stephenson said.
Variety reported in August that British theater producer John Gore had acquired Hammer Films and Studios and that he intended to revive the brand.
Ever since I was a young boy, I have been enchanted by the magic of Hammer Films. Its stories, characters and unique place in British heritage and cinema were a source of inspiration and delight. Today, as I lead this iconic studio, my commitment is two-fold: to honor and preserve Hammer’s unparalleled legacy and to usher in a new era of storytelling that captivates audiences around the world. Through significant investment and a fresh creative vision, we will ensure that the Hammer spirit not only survives, but thrives today.
Gore said then.
Doctor Jekyll arrives in theaters on October 27!