Richard E Grant and Natalie Gumede have been cast in ITV’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ adaptation.
The 57-year-old actor will star opposite the former ‘Coronation Street’ actress and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant in an upcoming television version of the novella, which is due to begin filming next month.
The 30-year-old star – who recently appeared in the ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas special in which she aided the Doctor and Clara in defeating dream crabs – will play a woman called Bella who is in a love triangle with Dr Jekyll’s grandson in the updated version of the drama, with Richard portraying the head of a mysterious government department.
The 10-part series – which has been created by ‘Fast Show’ comic Charlie Higson – will be inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic about kind-hearted Dr. Jekyll who turns into evil Mr. Hyde after drinking a potion he has brewed in his laboratory.
The updated series – which will be set in 1930s London and is expected to be broadcast in 2016 – will focus on the original protagonist’s grandson, Robert Jekyll (Tom Bateman), who discovers he has inherited his grandfather’s unfortunate trait of transforming into the monstrous alter-ego and embarks on an investigation to uncover why he has been "cursed".
Speaking about the series last year, Charlie, 56, said: "It’s an exciting challenge to take Stevenson’s work and use it as the basis for a new ‘Jekyll and Hyde’.
"So many superheroes with secret dual personalities have been brought to life thanks to ‘Jekyll & Hyde’. He’s one of literatures most important and influential characters and it’s a privilege to be rediscovering him."
Richard E Grant cast in Jekyll and Hyde TV adaptation
