Wooden thespian Keanu Reeves is set to star in a modern retelling of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
The well-known story was first published as a novella in 1886 and followed the story of a doctor who scientifically develops an evil self. The book is obviously particularly famous for its portrayal of a split personality, to the point the phrase ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ has become synonymous with the disorder, and has been the inspiration for over a dozen films.
More importantly however, Nicolas Winding Refn — of fabulous psychotic-British-jailbird picture “Bronson,” due later this year, a must-see — is in negotiations to direct the project which will be retitled “Jekyll.” Now we’re talking all kinds of potential awesome despite the robot cue-card reader that is Keanu (maybe Refn can coach the rare decent performance out of him).
Scribing this adaptation will be Justin Haythe (“Revolutionary Road”). Note: this version also has nothing to do with the previously announced Guillermo del Toro version, which will reportedly be much more faithful to the original material than this modernized update. [THR]