Dr. Keanu and Mr. Reeves ? Whoa!

Poor old Keanu, Ive got a soft spot for the dude, he was in two of my favourite movies growing up (Speed, The Matrix) and he does try hard, but most still see him as a block of wood with a mouth. Now news comes from The Hollywood Reporter that he is set to star in a new version of the classic 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde' for Universal.

Universal is developing a modern retelling of the classic novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," with Keanu Reeves attached to star and Justin Haythe, writer of "Revolutionary Road," penning the script.

Nicolas Winding Refn is in negotiations to direct the project, titled "Jekyll." It is being produced by Erwin Stoff and Red Wagon Entertainment's Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher.

Robert Louis Stevenson's tale about a doctor who scientifically develops an evil self has become so pervasive in popular culture that the phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" conjures the idea of a split personality. The story has been translated to the screen and stage dozens of times, with several deviations including comedy, kids ("Jekyll and Heidi") and gender (1995's "Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde"). The story has seen modern iterations as recently as 2007, when the BBC aired a miniseries with the story set in the present as Hyde ran amok in London.

Plot details for this "Jekyll" are being kept locked in the laboratory.

The jokes are going start pouring in I am sure, "Is the new version going to be about a bad actor turning into a good actor with someone else playing the good actor ?" but I am willing to at least see how this fresh take on a classic develops.