As a lifelong horror enthusiast who grew up devouring every Universal monster movie I could get my hands on, the prospect of Leigh Whannell taking on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde fills me with an uncontainable excitement that’s reminiscent of the transformative potion itself! Having seen his genius at work in The Invisible Man and Wolf Man, I have no doubt he can breathe new life into this classic tale, much like Jekyll does to Hyde.
After successfully adapting “The Invisible Man” in 2020, writer/director Leigh Whannell is set to release “Wolf Man” next January, offering a fresh take on another classic Universal monster for modern audiences. With this project out of the way, his schedule seems clear, especially when it comes to revamping old horror films. However, it doesn’t mean that Whannell isn’t considering other iconic characters from Universal. In fact, he has expressed interest in giving “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” a try.
Over the weekend at New York Comic Con, James Wan openly shared his wish to adapt Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novel, which was first made into a film by Universal in 1913 with King Baggot portraying the title character who had an unusual fondness for self-experimentation. This book has held a special place in Wan’s heart since he was young, and if given the opportunity, he would be ecstatic to retell the story in a contemporary context. However, at this moment, Wan is unsure about how that vision would materialize.
I’ve often found myself reminiscing about the chilling tale of Jekyll and Hyde. This book, from my childhood, still gives me shivers thinking about it. The idea behind it was truly unsettling, among all the monsters, this one left a lasting impression on me. There’s something intriguing about the character who embodies both the hero and the villain. I believe a contemporary adaptation of Jekyll and Hyde would be fascinating. I can’t quite put my finger on what form it might take.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Could Go Any Number of Directions
It’s often overlooked that among Universal’s iconic monsters, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have had relatively few appearances within their film history. Their first appearance was in the 1913 movie, with another in the 1953 film titled “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde“. They remained inactive until they were revived in “The Mummy” of 2017, where Russell Crowe took on both roles in a project once known as the Dark Universe, which is no longer active now.
Considering the triumph Leigh Whannell achieved with The Invisible Man, and given the anticipated success of Wolf Man (have you watched the thrilling trailer?), it seems logical for him to continue delving into Universal’s collection of monsters. We can hardly imagine anyone more suitable for him to adapt next than Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As of now, he hasn’t decided on a specific concept, but there are numerous paths a new film could take. For instance, it could introduce an element of true crime, given the current fascination with that genre. The storyline might involve Jekyll recounting his experiences to a documentary crew. Or maybe the doctor is striving to cure his wife’s terminal illness by transforming her into a disease-free individual, only to inadvertently unleash the monster lurking within himself, enraged at the world for her affliction.
Regardless if the Dark Universe is no longer active, we’re thrilled that Leigh Whannell and Blumhouse are revitalizing Universal’s classic IP. The outcomes have been impressive, and perhaps, in the future, there might be a crossover similar to 1945’s “House of Dracula,” where all these characters unite for an epic monster-filled gathering.
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2024-10-22 20:01