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Johnny Depp, Ridley Scott, and Mechanical Cake Unleash HYDE in Hall H at Comic-Con

Posted on by Mark.E

Johnny Depp

&

Ridley Scott

Unite to Unleash HYDE: A Twisted New Vision from Mechanical Cake

SAN DIEGO, CA (July 21, 2025) – In an era dominated by franchise reboots and cinematic universes, a bold new collaboration is set to turn heads and rewrite the rules of cross-media storytelling. Hollywood icon Johnny Depp and visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott have joined forces with creator Jesse Negron and his disruptive publishing studio Mechanical Cake to launch HYDE—a dark, genre-bending entertainment venture rooted in originality, imagination, and cinematic grit.

The trio, who jointly own the project, announced the venture ahead of its San Diego Comic-Con debut, where HYDE will take center stage at a Hall H panel on Thursday.

The Monster Wins: A New Chapter for Mr. Hyde

Created and written by Jesse Negron (MODVILLE), HYDE dares to ask: what if Mr. Hyde won?

Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the new series imagines a world where Dr. Jekyll is no longer in control—and Hyde has taken over completely. Set in the sewers beneath Victorian London, the twisted tale follows Hyde as he experiments on victims and spreads his serum to create an army of monstrous versions of himself.

Each of the two volumes in the graphic novel series will feature two dense, cinematic chapters totaling over 200 pages of artwork, horror, and psychological intrigue. The creative team includes Negron and co-writer Joe Matsumoto, editor and comics legend Dave Elliott, and renowned artists Gary Erskine and Chris Weston. Oversight comes from a powerhouse lineup of producers, including Tom Moran (SVP, Scott Free), Jason Forman (COO, Infinitum Nihil), and Tom Sanders (CFO, Mechanical Cake).

✍️ Depp’s Dark Turn

Not just lending his name to the project, Johnny Depp will have input on all aspects of HYDE—including the creation and development of the title character.

“To build within the world of Robert Louis Stevenson’s masterful characters and to be welcomed into the vision of Ridley Scott… and inexplicably having the opportunity to explore,” Depp mused. “It’s surprising to me. And hopefully surprising to him. It’s insane and beautiful to receive that trust from Ridley. A master.”

Scott Sees a Monster Hit

When Ridley Scott first saw the concept art and pitch for HYDE, his response was immediate:
“It’s a no-brainer.”

With a legacy of groundbreaking world-building from Blade Runner to Alien to Gladiator, Scott’s instincts remain razor-sharp—particularly when it comes to bold new IP with cinematic potential.

“This is an incredible opportunity to build a studio-level project that goes directly from the creators to the audience, with no filters in between,” added Negron, who founded Mechanical Cake to reimagine how creator-owned content reaches fans.

Hall H Awaits: HYDE Panel at SDCC

The project will be unveiled in full cinematic flair at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H in a can’t-miss panel titled HYDE: When the Worlds of Graphic Novels and Movies Collide, happening Thursday, 1:30–2:30pm.

Panelists include:

  • Jesse Negron (CEO, Mechanical Cake / Creator of HYDE)

  • Dave Elliott (Editor-in-Chief, Mechanical Cake)

  • Tom Moran (SVP, Scott Free)

  • Jason Forman (COO, Infinitum Nihil)

  • Anthony Francisco (Former Marvel Studios Senior Designer)

The panel will be moderated by comics journalist Heidi MacDonald (The Beat) and will explore how elite creative teams from both Hollywood and the comic book world are collaborating to develop original properties that speak directly to fans—no middlemen, no gatekeepers.

Comic-Con Exclusives & Launch Info

Fans attending the panel will receive a large-format HYDE ashcan (a graphic novel preview), also available as a free digital download at MechanicalCake.com.

Plus, visitors to the HYDE booth at Comic-Con can expect more collectible swag—and a sneak peek into the twisted, underground world of Hyde.

The first full chapter of HYDE (1 of 4) is slated to ship this Halloween, and pre-orders are live now at mechanicalcake.com and at the SDCC booth.

From the Underground to the Mainstream

With HYDE, Mechanical Cake continues to deliver “off the rails” storytelling on a whole new level. Combining the twisted minds of Jesse Negron, Johnny Depp, and Ridley Scott, this project blurs the boundaries between comics, cinema, and immersive storytelling.

And with a monster like Hyde in control, there’s no telling how far it’ll go.

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