The 47-year-old rapper/actor is set to star in, co-produce and co-write the modern take on Charles Dickens' classic, with Tony Award winner Thomas Kail directing.
- October 26, 2016
AceShowbiz -
Ice Cube is teaming up with Tony Award-winning director of "Hamilton", Thomas Kail, to develop "Oliver Twist (2018)" musical at Disney Studios. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 47-year-old rapper/actor will star as Fagin, the leader of a criminal gang in the modern take on Charles Dickens' classic.
Cube will also serve as a producer through his Cube Vision banner along with Jeff Kwatinetz of The Firm and Marc Platt, a veteran movie producer who also was behind Broadway's hit musical "Wicked". In addition to starring in and co-producing the project, Cube will co-write the script with Kwatinetz, who was the exec producer of his latest movie "Barbershop: The Next Cut".
"Oliver Twist" is Dickens' second novel, which was originally published as a serial in 1837-1839. It follows a young orphan boy who lives as an exploited child laborer. He later joins a group of London child pickpockets which is led by an adult criminal called Fagin.
Disney adapted the popular story as an animated movie in 1988, "Oliver and Company". In 2005, TriStar Pictures made the live-action adaptation which was helmed by Academy Award-winning director Roman Polanski. The titular orphan boy was portrayed by Barney Clark, while the criminal leader was played by Ben Kingsley.
Cube can next be seen opposite Charlie Day in Richie Keen's comedy film "Fist Fight", which will arrive in U.S. theaters on February 17, 2017. He will reunite with Kevin Hart in "Ride Along 3". Meanwhile, Kail's other directing credits include stage musical "In the Heights" and Fox's "Grease Live" TV special.
