Prince of Cats, Ron Wimberly's 2012 graphic novel centered on the Romeo and Juliet character Tybalt, is getting the cinematic treatment thanks to Legendary Entertainment and Lakeith Stanfield.
The film adaptation of the once out-of-print DC/Vertigo novel is being crafted as "a star vehicle" for Stanfield now that Legendary has the rights, Deadlinereported Tuesday night with nowhere near enough enthusiasm. Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, who previously worked on Beyond Beef: Jay-Z and Nas and Who Fears Death, will pen the adapted script from Wimberly's 80s Brooklyn-set version of the Shakespearean classic.
Prince of Cats is told from the perspective of Tybalt, a character that's been embodied in various Romeo and Juliet adaptations by everyone from Orson Welles to Alan Rickman. Arguably, however, the best Tybalt interpretation came via John Leguizamo in Baz Luhrmann's very of-the-period 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. In the Prince of Cats version, the Capulets and Montagues' disagreements are set against the backdrop of a vital New York music scene.
You can currently catch Stanfield in one of the most inventive films in years, Boots Riley's brilliant Sorry to Bother You.
Get tickets here unless you're just not into the idea of enjoying truly remarkable cinema stacked with truly remarkable actors. After that, I recommend buying this.
