Jack The Ripper might be the most famous killer to have stalked the streets of London in history, but The Limehouse Golem is looking to tell an altogether different story of a menace on the byways of the capital. Bill Nighy (taking over for the late Alan Rickman, who died before shooting could begin) leads the cast for the film, which now has a trailer and poster online.
It's 1880, and the terrified population of Limehouse are talking in hushed tones about a Golem – a monster straight from Judaic mythology of a creature formed from clay or mud and animated through rituals and incantations. Nighy plays Inspector Kildare of Scotland Yard, handed the seemingly impossible task of solving a string of murders reportedly carried out by the figure, concerned that he's being set up as a scapegoat if more people die.
As he narrows down his list of suspects (which includes Karl Marx!) he realises that famed performer Little Lizzie Cree (Olivia Cooke), herself set to hang for poisoning her husband, could be the key to the whole mystery. If only he can keep her safe. You know, aside from the whole death sentence thing...
With Douglas Booth, Eddie Marsan and Daniel Mays also in the cast, Jane Goldman adapting Peter Ackroyd's novel and Juan Carlos Medina directing, The Limehouse Golem will hunt down our cinemas on 1 September.