Johnny Depp is stepping into the shadows for an all-new graphic novel series, Hyde, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The project is a creative partnership between Ridley Scott, the production company Mechanical Cake, and Depp himself, with all three set to co-own the property.
The first installment of Hyde will drop this Halloween, kicking off a two-volume graphic novel series created by Mechanical Cake CEO Jesse Negron.
The story picks up after Hyde has completely overtaken his Dr. Jekyll counterpart and dives deep into the villain’s twisted psyche. According to the release, the character will “freely explore his dark tendencies with uninhibited abandon,” hiding out in London’s sewers while experimenting with a serum that transforms others into Hydes.
The title character will share Depp’s likeness, and the actor isn’t just lending his face. He’s actively shaping the creative vision behind Hyde.
“To build within the world of Robert Louis Stevenson’s masterful characters and to be welcomed into the vision of Ridley Scott… and inexplicably having the opportunity to explore, it’s surprising to me,” Depp said in a statement. “And hopefully surprising to him. It’s insane and beautiful to receive that trust from Ridley. A master.”
Negron co-wrote the series with Joe Matsumoto, while Dave Elliott serves as editor and the artwork comes from Gary Erskine and Chris Weston. Oversight for the project comes from Tom Moran at Scott Free, Jason Forman at Infinitum Nihil, and Tom Sanders at Mechanical Cake.
“This is an incredible opportunity to build a studio-level project that goes directly from the creators to the audience, with no filters in between,” Negron shared. “‘Hyde,’ like everything Mechanical Cake does, is a bit off the rails, in a good way.”
As for Ridley Scott, his reaction to the pitch was as straightforward as it gets: “It’s a no-brainer!”
Fans will get an early look at Hyde during San Diego Comic-Con, where it will be featured on a Hall H panel titled “‘Hyde’: When the Worlds of Graphic Novels and Movies Collide.” The panel will explore “how top creative talent from the graphic novel and movie worlds collaborate to bring exciting new projects directly to audiences,” and will feature Negron, Elliott, Moran, Forman, and Anthony Francisco.
Beyond Hyde, Scott Free and Mechanical Cake are also developing two more graphic novel projects: the sci-fi crime thriller Modville and the Norse war saga Nick.
With a star like Depp lending his likeness and Ridley Scott backing the project, Hyde is shaping up to be a bold, genre-bending addition to the world of graphic novels.
Source: Variety
