Johnny Depp is fully embodying his darker side for a major new venture. According to Variety, the acclaimed actor has officially joined “Hyde,” an ambitious new graphic novel property inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” spearheaded by legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott and the innovative production company Mechanical Cake. In a unique arrangement, Depp, Scott, and Mechanical Cake will jointly own the property, which launches later this year with its inaugural graphic novel series timed for Halloween.
Conceived by Mechanical Cake CEO Jesse Negron, “Hyde” presents a bold twist on the iconic tale, chronicling the existence of Edward Hyde after he has permanently overthrown his Dr. Henry Jekyll persona. Per the official release, this victorious Hyde will “freely explore his dark tendencies with uninhibited abandon,” establishing a hidden lair within London’s labyrinthine sewers. His sinister activities include using a transformative serum to create more monstrous Hydes from unsuspecting victims. Critically, the graphic novel’s central Hyde character will bear Johnny Depp’s distinct likeness, as revealed in an exclusive first-look image. Depp will actively contribute his creative insights across all aspects of the property, with a particular focus on shaping the development and portrayal of Hyde himself.
“To build within the world of Robert Louis Stevenson’s masterful characters and to be welcomed into the vision of Ridley Scott… and inexplicably having the opportunity to explore, it’s surprising to me,” Depp expressed in an official statement. “And hopefully surprising to him. It’s insane and beautiful to receive that trust from Ridley. A master.” His words underscore the significance of this creative partnership and his deep engagement with the character’s evolution.
Negron penned the two-volume series alongside Joe Matsumoto, with Dave Elliott serving as editor. The artistic duties fall to Gary Erskine and Chris Weston. The high-profile partnership is managed by Tom Moran, Senior Vice President at Scott Free Productions, Jason Forman, Vice President at Depp’s Infinitum Nihil, and Tom Sanders, CFO of Mechanical Cake.
“This is an incredible opportunity to build a studio-level project that goes directly from the creators to the audience, with no filters in between,” stated Negron, highlighting the project’s unique path. “‘Hyde,’ like everything Mechanical Cake does, is a bit off the rails, in a good way.” The release notably shared Ridley Scott’s enthusiastic initial reaction to the pitch and a mockup poster: “It’s a no-brainer!”
The “Hyde” graphic novel will make its grand debut at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday. A dedicated Hall H panel, titled “‘Hyde’: When the Worlds of Graphic Novels and Movies Collide,” will feature Jesse Negron, Dave Elliott, Tom Moran, Jason Forman, and concept artist Anthony Francisco. They will delve into “how top creative talent from the graphic novel and movie worlds collaborate to bring exciting new projects directly to audiences,” as described by Comic-Con organizers.
Beyond “Hyde,” Scott Free Productions and Mechanical Cake are collaborating on two additional graphic novel properties: the sci-fi crime saga “Modville” and the epic Norse war story “Nick,” further expanding their joint creative footprint.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.