Jekyll & Hyde Headed to the Big Screen

Variety reports that Jekyll and Hyde is headed to the big screen, courtesy of The Hatchery. The film, which is said to have been greenlit based on the success of Chicago, Moulin Rouge, and the Golden Globe noms for The Producers, will be executive produced by its Broadway creative team of Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse. The show, which is said to have grossed nearly $500 million worldwide since it's 1996 Broadway premiere will be brought to the big screen by The Hatchery, in partnership with Grand Illusions Media Partners. At this time, no release target or casting information is available.

Jekyll & Hyde is a rousing gothic musical based on the classic tale of good and evil. Murder and chaos run rampant and evil lurks around every corner, but love and virtue put up a strong fight in this engaging thriller.

Dr. Henry Jekyll, pursuing his life-long quest, endeavors to separate the two natures of man. Refused help by his peers and superiors, he begins experiments on himself with his formula. He meets with success, and shocking results. The evil nature of Dr. Jekyll surfaces as a separate identity: Edward Hyde. Hyde begins murdering the members of the Board of Governors who previously refused assistance to Jekyll's cause. Meanwhile Jekyll fights in vain to keep his darker half under control.

Caught in the cross-fire of this epic internal struggle are Jekyll's fiancée, Emma Carew (called Lisa in some versions of the show); her father, Sir Danvers; Jekyll's best friend, John Utterson; and a prostitute named Lucy, who becomes entangled with Hyde.

This show mixes together characters from both ends of the social spectrum, songs and scenes that provide ample chills and thrills, and a main character split between the extremes of morality. But are they really that separate... "How do you tell evil from good?"