Clip: Jekyll and Hyde, but not as you know them
James R | On 21, Oct 2015
It’s not long to go now until ITV unveils its reboot of Jekyll and Hyde – and we’ve got a clip from the episode to give you an idea of what to expect.
The 10-part action adventure was conceived by Charlie Higson. Higson, who has moved from The Fast Show to frightening young adults with his series of The Enemy horror novels, has written and executive produces the show, which gives a new take on The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
It stars Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons), Richard E Grant and Natalie Gumede (Coronation Street).
Set in 1930’s London at a time of Hollywood glamour, aerodynamic cars and monster movies, the drama will pay homage to the Stevenson novel, presenting Jekyll as the grandson of the original doctor – young, attractive, and troubled. The series follows his quest to discover his family history and real identity, as well as the nature of his curse, which sees him transform into Mr. Hyde in moments of extreme anger, stress and when his or the lives of others are threatened.
Episode 1 begins in 1885, where Edward Hyde gets into an altercation with his patron, Sir Danvers Carew – and murders him. Fast forward to 1935, in Ceylon, where Hyde’s grandson, orphaned doctor Robert Jekyll, is unaware of his ancestry. Here Robert saves a young girl with a superhuman show of strength – a side effect of his condition, for which has always taken pills. But this time the incident gets into the newspapers, catching the eye of a lawyer, one Max Utterson in London, a government department committed to fighting monsters, and an ancient and sinister organisation keen to recruit shape‐shifters like Robert. Adrift in London, Robert only has a new friend, Lily, to guide him…
Jekyll & Hyde starts at 6.30pm on ITV on Sunday 25th October and will be available to catch up with post-broadcast on ITV Player.
Here’s a clip from the first episode:
Photo: STEVE BROWN / ITV