Keanu Reeves: The Next Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Filed under: Classics, Casting, Remakes and Sequels
Following in the shoes of actors like John Barrymore, Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Matt Keeslar, and Sean Young, Keanu Reeves is going to tap into his dark side. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is getting a modern re-telling, and Reeves is going to star as the iconic character.No, this is not the Guillermo del Toro picture -- he's got his hands full with Katie Holmes and hobbits. However, it is being made by the same studio (Universal). They must really love the story. As we all know by now, Stevenson's story focuses on a doctor whose science unleashes a darker and more evil side of himself (although I think it was there to begin with -- Jekyll is a damn creepy name). Obviously, this won't be a gender-bending story like Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde, but Universal isn't sharing what it will be, so make your best guess.
Personally, I'm quite intrigued by Reeves as the choice. While I would pick a very subtle and versatile actor like Gary Oldman, they picked the guy who most comfortably settles into the goofy and solemn. Could he really handle the transformation? Weigh in below!
Peter Jackson Says Spielberg's 'Tintin' is Done Filming, but...
Interracial Harmony: 'Ninja Assassin' vs. 'Blind Side'
Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/24_thumbnail.jpg)
Exclusive 'Nine' Poster Premiere!
Exclusive: Title Track for 'The Road' Soundtrack
_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-08-2009 @ 9:24AM
ML said...
IMO: no.
Reply
5-08-2009 @ 10:33AM
Astin said...
Nope.
His solemn and good Jekyll will be bland and flat. His menacing and evil Hyde will be laughably overdone and unbelievable.
Now, if he did it as a stoner comedy...
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 3:47PM
Nora said...
I have to agree, nothing personal against Keanu Reeves but you need an really good actor to play the role. Johnny Depp would have done wonders with the role and Gary Oldman would have been great as well.
5-08-2009 @ 2:03PM
Jackie said...
Unless they can get him to go to a dark side like with the Watcher with James Spader or The Gift with Hillary Swank and Cate Blanchette. Otherwised it may turnout out like Coppola's Dracula.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 3:50AM
Dan said...
Maybe...but probably not. But fuck it, I'm down. As far as Keanu goes, the man's acting skills are limited, but I'll be damned if he doesn't pick interesting roles and almost always makes awesome movies too.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 1:20AM
Fozzwanger said...
We are talking about a guy who could not well up tears during the filming if Dangerous LIasons. Reeves is what is wrong with Hollywood: if you are gorgeous you get work; nevermind if you have talent!
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 5:30AM
Dick Grizzly said...
What in the 9 levels of hell (yes, there's really 9; I have that on the highest authority) is this? KEANU #@%& REEVES? They can't be serious can they?
I'm an actor and it's been a dream of mine to play this role. I may not be the best choice for the role but I KNOW I'm better than Bill S. Preston, Esquire (Reeves' character in "Bill and Ted," for those who don't know).Lord knows I could do it better.
Astin, (Comment #2) you're right, Reeves could do it if it was a stoner comedy! PUH-LEEZE!
It should be a British actor playing it but if it had to be an American, there had to be a better choice than KEANU %$#@ REEVES!
Did you hear that? I think I heard Robert Louis Stevenson yacking up what's left of his guts. Wait!! He's now uttering a barrage of F-bombs.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 5:47AM
Dick Grizzly said...
I would be remiss if I didn't offer alternative choices for this role. Here's a partial list:
Hugh Jackman (hot commodity and far superior actor)
Pierce Brosnan (not too old for it)
Gary Oldman (already mentioned)
Christian Bale (Maybe too young, maybe not)
Clive Owen
Robert Downey Jr. (the only American I can think of right
now, does a great British accent)
I don't agree with Johnny Depp; a little too weird. Then again if Tim Burton ends up directing this, Depp's got the role.
If Heath Ledger were alive, I think the role would've been his, hands down.
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 2:39PM
jeanne said...
Actually, Keanu Reeves played the other character in "Bill and Ted"...Ted , or Ted Theodore Logan. He does usually play nice guys so I think it will be really interesting to see him do a conflicted character like this. Although if anyone here saw "The Gift", his wife beater character was a real jerk and frighteningly believable.
Reply