Who would have thought to put Disney, Ice Cube and Oliver Twist in the same sentence. But for real, its happening! Disney is joining forces with Ice Cube and Hamilton director Thomas Kail to recreate the work based on the famous Charles Dickens book, as a musical with a twist!
Ice Cube says that the new Oliver Twist will be "crossing many genres, including hip-hop. Cube and [Jeff] Kwatinetz are writing the treatment, with Cube attached to play Fagin." Ice Cube, who is is a rapper turned actor and producer, is no stranger to creating greatness on the big screen, most recently drawing from his personal past and time in rap group N.W.A.
Disney dabbled with Oliver Twist back in 1988 by giving it the animated treatment and releasing Oliver and Company. Meanwhile, Kail, who gained a Tony Award for his work in Hamilton, has also directed Grease Live!, Fox's live TV take on the classic movie musical that starred Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens.
Oliver Twist is a story about an orphan boy who moves from a life as a child worker to becoming recruited by London pickpocket gang leader Fagin.
Its a dream team sure to give audiences a cool street cred vibe on a classic story!
