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Long Story transforms Jekyll and Hyde

Federation Entertainment-backed Long Story TV is developing a modern-day TV adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Donna Wiffen

Long Story, the prodco launched by producer Paul Marquess (The Bill) and former Fremantle exec Donna Wiffen in partnership with France’s Federation last year, has brought in Stephen Volk to adapt the novel.

Volk was the writer behind BBC show Ghostwatch, as well as ITV paranormal series Afterlife. He also adapted Midwinter of the Spirit for ITV and worked on Channel 4’s horror series Shockers.

First published in 1886, Jekyll & Hyde is about a London legal practitioner who investigates strange occurrences around his old friend Dr Henry Jekyll and the evil Edward Hyde.

Volk said: “The key masterpieces of genre literature have always been part of my DNA, and I’m thrilled to be working with Donna, Paul and the team at Long Story and Federation on a bold, edgy, transgressive riff on Stevenson’s horror classic, taking it in a direction that nobody has seen before, and grabbing them by the throat.”

In a joint statement, Wiffen and Marquess added: “We set up Long Story primarily to target programming with a lower episodic budget.

“However, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with Stephen on his incredible interpretation of this amazing story,” they said, adding that “several broadcasters” had shown interest.

London-based Long Story TV was created in April last year to create “commercial, cost-efficient, popular drama with a British sensibility” that also “has an eye on the international market.” Its development slate includes detective series Death in Bruges, Charm Offensive and Call The Police.

Wiffen continues to serve as MD at UK prodco Duchess Street, https://www.c21media.net/duchess-street-brings-novels-to-tv/ part of Anthology Group, while Marquess heads up PGMTV.

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