Trans Legend Eddie Izzard to Star in Doctor Jekyll

Filming is currently underway in the U.K. on Doctor Jekyll, a new, modern interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson's iconic 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, starring comedy and trans legend Eddie Izzard, reports Variety.

Perhaps most excitingly, the project seemingly won't be ignoring its star's trans identity. In Doctor Jekyll, Izzard will play the reclusive Dr. Nina Jekyll, who strikes up a friendship with her newly hired help, Rob (Scott Chambers). However, Nina has a dark secret: Inside her lurks a murderous alter named Hyde. In keeping with the story's legacy, Jekyll will need Rob's help to fight back against the monster inside, to keep it from clawing its way to the surface, taking over, wreaking havoc, and destroying her life. With Izzard taking on the role, it could make for a truly fascinating look at the complexity of identity.

Doctor Jekyll will be directed by Joe Stephenson, written by first-time screenwriter Dan Kelly-Mulhern, and will be released by the legendary British horror label Hammer as a part of its newly reformed studio. In fact, the film is set to be its first release.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Joe and his superlative cast and crew on Doctor Jekyll. There can be few subjects more apt to launch Hammer Studios and the production has everything you'd expect of a modern Hammer film," Hammer Studios managing director, Tim Beddows said. "It's an honor to partner this way with the new Hammer Studios, in doing so Doctor Jekyll becomes both part of a legendary legacy and the start of an exciting future for U.K. genre filmmaking."