Spike Lee Crowned Director for Prince of Cats

The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively revealed that Academy Award winner Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) will direct a film adaptation of Prince of Cats — based on Ron Wimberly’s acclaimed graphic novel — for Legendary, which is developing the project.

Lee will also work with Wimberly and writer Selwyn Seyfu Hinds to rewrite the screenplay from Hinds’s initial script.

According to the report: “The project is described as an '80s-set hip-hop take on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, with the tragic star-crossed love story seen through the eyes of Tybalt, Juliet’s angry and duel-loving cousin. 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.”