Doctor Jekyll: Lindsay Duncan, Simon Callow co-star in Eddie Izzard, Hammer Studios film

Director Joe Stephenson’s Doctor Jekyll, “a modern interpretation” of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, wrapped production last week, and now Variety has revealed the names of several cast members who will be sharing the screen with gender fluid comedian/actor Eddie Izzard (The Lost Symbol), who is taking on the role of Doctor Nina Jekyll. Izzard’s co-stars include Tony Jayawardena (The Crown), Robyn Cara (Ackley Bridge), the appropriately named Jonathan Hyde (Titanic), and BAFTA nominees Lindsay Duncan (Birdman) and Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral).

Stephenson developed Doctor Jekyll with first-time writer Dan Kelly-Mulhern during the UK lockdown. The story they crafted follows

the reclusive Nina Jekyll finding friendship with her newly hired help, Rob. They must work together to prevent Hyde from destroying her life.

Rob is played by the previously announced Scott Chambers, who worked with Stephenson on the film Chicken.

The legendary British horror label Hammer Films recently teamed up with the UK’s Network Distributing to form a new company called Hammer Studios Ltd., which will “invest substantially both in restoration and new production development from both its owned and newly created IP”. This new iteration of Hammer acquired the UK rights to Doctor Jekyll a couple weeks ago, with the company’s managing director Tim Beddows providing the following statement:

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Joe and his superlative cast and crew on Doctor Jekyll. There can be few subjects more apt to launch Hammer Studios and the production has everything you’d expect of a modern Hammer film.”

Doctor Jekyll was produced by B Good Picture Company, in association with Fluidity Films. Stephenson produced with Guy de Beaujeu. Liam Coutts is associate producer, while Christian Angermayer serves as executive producer.

According to Variety, Hammer and Stephenson are aiming to get Doctor Jekyll into film festivals this fall.