‘Romeo and Juliet’ is coming to Netflix…with an urban spin.
Will Smith and Queen Latifah are set to produce a hip-hop musical version of the Shakespeare classic.
The film is described as a contemporary musical take on William Shakespeare’s tragedy set against the urban rhythms of New York. The love story follows a young waitress from the streets of Brooklyn and an aspiring musician from a wealthy family whose unconventional romance forces them to confront their life choices.
Solvan “Slick” Naim, who is behind the streamer’s upcoming series It’s Bruno, will direct from a script he wrote with Dave Broome.
Latifah and Shakim Compere will produce via their Flavor Unit Entertainment banner, along with Broome and Yong Yam for 25/7 Productions. Smith will act as an executive producer under his Overbrook Entertainment, with James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett.
Naim’s other directing credits include episodes of Baz Luhrman’s The Get Down, Starz’s Power and FX’s Snowfall. He is repped by CAA, Fourth Wall Management and Ziffren Brittenham.