In an exciting collaboration, Johnny Depp and Ridley Scott are teaming up to create Hyde, a groundbreaking graphic novel inspired by the iconic novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This ambitious project also features Jesse Negron’s Mechanical Cake, with all three collaborators sharing co-ownership of this unique narrative.
Crafted by Jesse Negron, Hyde will delve into the aftermath of the original novella, portraying a captivating scenario where Mr. Hyde has emerged victorious over Dr. Jekyll. In this reimagined universe, “Hyde explores his sinister inclinations without the constraints imposed by his alter ego.” This graphic novel is set to unfold across two volumes, each comprising two chapters, and will feature over two hundred pages that vividly depict Hyde’s adventures in the dark, labyrinthine sewers of London, where he conducts nefarious experiments using a tainted serum to spawn more entities akin to “Hydes.”
As illustrated in the accompanying image, the character of Hyde will closely resemble Depp, who is actively involved in shaping every aspect of this innovative project. “To immerse myself in the world of Robert Louis Stevenson’s remarkable characters and to be embraced by the visionary mind of Ridley Scott is an extraordinary opportunity.” Depp expressed in a recent statement. “This is a delightful surprise for me and, I hope, for him as well. It is both exhilarating and beautiful to receive such trust from a master like Ridley.”
The series is co-written by Negron and Joe Matsumoto, with the artistic talents of Gary Erskine and Chris Weston and editing by Dave Elliott. “This presents an amazing opportunity to develop a studio-quality project that connects directly with the audience, free from intermediaries.” Negron commented. “Hyde embodies the unique essence of everything Mechanical Cake creates—it’s delightfully unconventional. We are eager to reveal HYDE to the world at San Diego Comic-Con this year!” Hyde will be prominently featured at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, with a dedicated panel titled “Hyde: When the Worlds of Graphic Novels and Movies Collide” scheduled from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Hall H.
Interestingly, Depp was once set to portray another legendary horror figure almost a decade ago when he was slated to take on the role of The Invisible Man in the now-defunct Dark Universe franchise. However, the franchise quickly unraveled following the poor reception of The Mummy, which dashed the hopes for a cohesive universe.
