Legendary Pictures has just won an auction for the feature rights to Prince of Cats, the graphic novel written by Ron Wimberly that will be developed as a star vehicle for Lakeith Stanfield.

Selwyn Sefyu Hinds is attached to adapt. The graphic novel is described as an ‘80s hip-hop retelling of Shakespeare’s timeless classic Romeo & Juliet– only this time, we follow Tybalt’s perspective as he and his Capulet crew navigate a violent Brooklyn where underground sword dueling with the Montagues blossoms alongside a vibrant music scene.

The graphic novel was originally published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint and now published by Image Comics. Janet and Kate Zucker of Zucker Productions are producing. It was originally published in 2012, and after being out of print for several years, the book was re-worked and re-released in 2016.

Hinds is the former editor in chief of The Source magazine, who most recently adapted Who Fears Death for HBO, a post-apocalyptic drama based on the sci-fi fantasy novel by Nnedi Okorafo with George R.R. Martin executive producing.  His adaptation of William & Ellen Craft’s book, Running A Thousand Miles For Freedom, which is being developed for Spider-Man: Homecoming‘s Zendaya.

Ronald Wimberly is an accomplished cartoonist, having designed several graphic novels as well as shorter works for DC/Vertigo, Nike, Marvel, Hill and Wang, and Dark Horse. His most recent work of note is the cartoon essay Lighten Up for The Nib on Medium.

Stanfield’s most recent work includes Get Out and Sorry To Bother You, which both received critical acclaim. He can next be seen as Ed Neeham in The Girl in the Spider’s Web.

Are you excited about this casting? Let us know down in the comments!

Source: Deadline

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