Spike Lee Set To Direct Prince Of Cats Adaptation
by Erik Amaya
The adaptation of Ron Wimberly’s Prince of Cats finally has its director: Spike Lee.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the legendary director will helm Legendary’s adaptation of the graphic novel initially published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint in 2012. It is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet from the perspective of Capulet bad boy Tybalt. Self-described as “B-Side” to the play, it reframes the tale in the landscape of 1980s New York; set amongst the hip-hop, punk, dance and new wave movements, Tybalt “and his Capulet crew navigate a violent Brooklyn where underground sword dueling with the Montagues blossoms alongside a vibrant music scene.” Out of print for a number of years, it was re-released in updated format by Image Comics in 2017.
Janet and Kate Zucker of Zucker Productions are set to produce with Lee set to rewrite the previous script by Selwyn Sefyu Hinds. THR notes he will work with Hinds and Wimberly in hammering out the new draft. They also note Lakeith Stanfield, who was attached to star when the project was first announced last year, is no longer involved in the film.
Prince of Cats is not currently schedule for release.