EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee Vanessa Kirby, BAFTA nominee David Oyelowo and BAFTA winner Sofie Gråbøl lead cast in Audible’s The Strange Case, the first audio drama from the creator of the John Wick franchise, Derek Kolstad.
Releasing in July, the modern-day reimagining of the classic Jekyll and Hyde story will see Dr. Jekyll (Vanessa Kirby) as an elite international specialist in energy systems, working closely with her handler Louis (David Oyelowo) in a career that takes her across the globe to politically volatile territories such as Iran and North Korea. When an arms dealer accuses her of having killed his family, Dr. Jekyll begins to question details of her life, who Louis really is, and whether her strange recurring dream has a greater meaning. She enlists the help of psychologist Sigrun (Sofie Gråbøl), and together they delve into Dr. Jekyll’s darker other side, a brutal assassin named… Hyde.
No word yet whether there are any screen rights available on this one but it’s a fun creative mix.
The original score comes from Brittany Allen (Torn Hearts). It was created and written by Derek Kolstad, alongside writers Mitali Jahagirdar, Laurie Kirwan-Ashman, Nick Luddington, Fallon O’Dowd, Ayeesha Menon and was directed and executive-produced by John Scott Dryden. Produced by Goldhawk Productions, it includes 3D sound design and a Dolby Atmos mix.
Kolstad is best known for creating the smash John Wick and Nobody franchises. He was co-exec producer on The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. He is in active development on the Nobody sequel for Universal.
Kolstad said: “From Treasure Island, to Kidnapped and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the work of Robert Louis Stevenson had a profound and lasting effect on me as a child. To blend his world with that of modern-day action, suspense, and intrigue was a joy. The writer’s room we put together sang. We enjoyed the challenge of writing for audio where the visuals are left up to the listener’s imagination.”
Aurelie de Troyer, Head of Regional Content of Europe commented: “It’s been brilliant to see Derek Kolstad’s creative transition from writing for screen to audio with us at Audible. Expect the same action-packed style with a tale of split personas, secret originations and twists and turns in this epic drama.”
