Doctor Jekyll: On the red carpet with the cast and creatives

Reimagining this well-thumbed gothic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson from 1886, director Joe Stevenson has pulled together a brilliant cast that includes Eddie Izzard in the lead role as Dr Nina Jekyll, a trans character that surpasses the idea of gender stereotypes through portraying an eccentric intellectual recluse with an evil alter ego called Rachel Hyde. 

After making her money in the pharmaceutical business, Dr Jekyll pulls away from the spotlight and retreats to a country mansion where she decides to hire a handyman called Rob (Scott Chambers) who arrives from a troubled past. The two become entangled in a game of cat and mouse when Nina’s alter ego Rachel Hyde makes an appearance and demons rise to the surface. The pair then begin a warped plan to overthrow Hyde and push back on the evil forces at play.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of speaking with the cast and creatives at the red carpet premiere of the film in Leicester Square. We heard from Stevenson about what drew him to a retelling of this horror story and bringing Izzard on board in this dual role of both Nina Jekyll and Rachel Hyde.

We spoke to Izzard about her exciting role in the feature and working alongside such a visionary director. We also spoke about trans roles, bringing diversity to the screen and building a rapport with her fellow cast.

Chambers spoke to us about his role in the film and what attracted him to the script. He also spoke about working alongside Izzard, the creepiness of the location and threads of the narrative.

We chatted to John Gore about taking over the Hammer Production company, the joy of the earlier films that had been made and the legacy that he’s taken on. We also spoke about bringing this to screen as the first feature since the take-over and what it meant to have Izzard on board.

We spoke to Morgan Watkins about his approach to the script and his interest in seeing what Stephenson would bring to this adaptation.

Ezelle Alblas

Doctor Jekyll is released nationwide on 27^th October 2023. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for Doctor Jekyll here: