Keanu Reeves to Star in "Jekyll and Hyde."

[Catman]

Keanu Reeves to star in updated "Jekyll"
By Borys Kit and Steven Zeitchik Borys Kit And Steven Zeitchik
Fri May 8, 3:07 am ET

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – Keanu Reeves is about to develop a split personality as the star of a modern retelling of "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

Universal Pictures is developing the feature, with Justin Haythe, writer of "Revolutionary Road," penning the script. Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, writer-director of the "Pusher" trilogy of gritty thrillers, is in negotiations to direct the project, titled "Jekyll."

Robert Louis Stevenson's novella 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. Among the adaptations are comedy versions, kids' stories ("Jekyll and Heidi") and gender-switch tales (1995's "Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde"). The story has undergone modern iterations as recently as 2007, when the BBC aired a miniseries that set the story 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; it also has been developing a take on it with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, but the two adaptations 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. His project is on the back burner, though, as he works on "The Hobbit" for New Line and MGM, a project that's expected to take up the next five years.

Refn's indie crime biopic "Bronson," starring Tom Hardy, premiered this year at the Sundance Film Festival.

Haythe wrote the script for "The Clearing," the Robert Redford-starring kidnapping thriller. He is working on the remake of "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea."

Reeves most recently starred in the remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)

 

[Eggyman]

Could be cool. Get Keanu to play one, and an actor to play the other.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Oh this will bring forth some cruel jokes for sure lol. Still I'll wait and see how it develops.

 

[That-Guy]

Oh, dear.

This sounds like a bad idea, simply because Reeves is involved. I think he could pull it off (I'm one of the people who does feel that Reeves is talented) but it doesn't matter. He'll get panned for it anyway.

 

[Caped Crusader]

whoa.

- Keanu

 

[Catman]

Remember when Reeves' was in Coppola's Dracula? Yea...

 

[Eggyman]

Remember when Reeves' was in Coppola's Dracula? Yea...

It was bad. Is that what you're saying? It should be t:


I wonder if the director deals with Keanu personally or if he just lets the prop department handle him?

 

[Catman]

It was bad. Is that what you're saying? It should be t:

Terrible, actually.

 

[Rac]

"I'm like two dudes at the same time? Awesome!"

 

[Hunter Rider]

It was bad. Is that what you're saying? It should be t:


I wonder if the director deals with Keanu personally or if he just lets the prop department handle him?

That's cold Eggy........

 

[Eggyman]

lol

I actually have a lot of love for him. It's just not the kind of love people would/should seek.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

whoa.

- Keanu

"Bastard! He's always ten steps ahead of me!"

 

[nite-owl]

"I'm like two dudes at the same time? Awesome!"

Anyway, Keanu has to be the easy actor to direct. Just stand there and look emotionless of camera.

 

[Dr. Evil]

No matter what Keanu does, most of us will remember him from the Bill and Ted movies.

 

[gwynplaine]

Not really my 1st choice for a Jeckyll and Hyde movie (paging Daniel Day Lewis or RDJ !), but Reeves is an underrated actor imo.

Plus he already played a Mr Hyde type of character in Sam Raimi's the gift and was pretty good I thought. Like most actors, if he works with a good director I think he can step up his game.

 

[Catman]

"I'm like two dudes at the same time? Awesome!"

That should be the tagline.

 

[Warhammer]

I hope they throw some heavy make-up on Keanu when he is Hyde, because that'll be the only way we will be able to tell the difference between his Jekyll and Hyde.

 

[Boom]

So much fail. So ****ing much.

 

[dark_b]

let me guess PG13. because it doesnt have to be R

 

[dude stannis]

Wasn't the Hyde monster a Jack the Ripper style serial killer?

Anyway, surprised no one made the obvious joke that Reeves will need to make two facial expressions.

 

[gwynplaine]

Between John Barrymore, Spencer Tracy (my favourite one), Frederick March, James Nesbit and a few others, Keanu has some serious competition. I wonder if it's going to be period or modern day like Steve Niles' Hyde.

 

[PimpDaddyDOC-OCK]

Wonder if he will be turned into a large creature like the Jekyll and Hyde in LXG & Vanhelsing or just a simple prosthetic make-up?

 

[Octoberist]

it's funny how the articles says that they're keeping the plot under wraps even though it's one the best known and influential stories out there.

 

[xwolverine2]

keanu haters.... he's the One.. bow before him

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Have him play the girl on the street at the begining, or have him be the lawyer, the witness to the opening event or the buttler.