Ice Cube's transformation from the guy who led N.W.A. and a group called the Lynch Mob into a warm and fuzzy family-friendly actor completed years ago, we know that. But it gets solidified even more today with news that he is teaming with Disney and Hamilton director Thomas Kail on a modern musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist".
Cube is really spearheading this project, taking on a producer role, co-writing the script with Jeff Kwatinetz, and starring in the role of Fagin, adult leader of a band of child pickpockets which includes the young orphan, Oliver Twist. And this being a musical it will cross multiple genres including hip-hop, much like Hamilton does. Kail most recently directed Fox's Grease Live!, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the stars of that broadcast end up here, too.
Disney previously adapted Dickens' novel into the 1988 animated film, Oliver and Company, which was about stray alleycats. So I guess this falls into their stable of live-action remakes, although I doubt this one will feature four-legged felines. [THR]
