Doctor Jekyll Starring Eddie Izzard Premiered in Leicester Square Odeon
Earlier this week, Leicester Square Odeon has hosted a world premiere of highly anticipated Doctor Jekyll – a new re-telling of a classical story by Hammer Films. An entertainment mogul and owner of the Hammer Films John Gore gave a speech that followed a recap video of Hammer Films legacy.
Gore dedicated Doctor Jekyll to two key figures in his life. First, to his longtime friend and investor Sarah Townsend, who “has been an inspiration of mine and Eddie’s throughout my career and helped me build my company into the largest live entertainment business globally.” Second was a dedication to the late Jerry Anderson, Gore’s mentor and teacher.
From the stage, Gore introduced the film’s director Joe Stevenson, who “faced the immense challenge of piecing together classic horror film footage into a coherent new story.” By all accounts from Gore’s speech, “the team succeeded in creating something fresh and exhilarating while also paying homage to the golden age horror films that inspired it.”
Director Joe Stevenson took to the stage to share his experience: “It’s very surreal is that I mean last time I was in this Cinema I watched Oppenheimer with a budget of $80 million. And so to be stood here with a film made for 80 times less is surreal.” He continued, “This piece of work that was really hard to make happen like a lot of Indie movies: people were disappearing and go off set because they had COVID, we had storms, we had everything um everything would expect with indie film.”
As to the main headliner, Eddie Izzard admitted how enjoyable it was to play Doctor Jekyll: “I enjoyed killing all of my cast. And I hope you will enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed being part of it”.
And enjoying the audience did. Produced by an acclaimed producer Guy de Beaujeu (Journey’s End) and co-starring horror film mover and shaker Scott Chambers (Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey) The Doctor Jekyll is truly an embodiment of the best of Hamer Films. Sizzling with bright and evocative colour palette, jam packed with visceral music in the best traditions of Hammer horror and topped with amazing performances courtesy Izzard and Chambers, the film offers and exhilarating experience.
Runs in cinemas from October the 27th.
Editor in Chief of Ikon London Magazine, journalist, film producer and founder of The DAFTA Film Awards (The DAFTAs).