A hip-hop adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is in the works. And Spike Lee is directing.
The Shakespearean tragedy has received countless adaptations over the years. The most famous of these is likely Baz Lurhmann’s modern interpretation starring Leonardo Di Caprio. The film is filled with surprises and as expected, it has a fantastic soundtrack.
More than two decades later, Lee is revising the classic tragedy and he is putting his own spin on the tale. Titled Prince of Cats, the adaptation will be set in the 1980s and will have a “hop hop twist”. It is also going to be approached from the point of view of Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film “centers on Tybalt and his Capulet brothers, who navigate Da People’s Republic of Brooklyn, where underground sword dueling — including katanas — with the rival Montagues blossoms into a vibrant world. That world includes hip-hop essentials such as DJing, emceeing, breakdancing and graffiti.”
The movie will be based on Ron Wimberly’s graphic novel. Lee will rewrite the script with the help of Wimberly and Selwyn Seyfu Hind.
