Rapper Ice Cube (right) in a scene from the film, Are We There Yet?. The rapper-actor is reportedly to play Fagin in a remake of the Oscar-winning musical, Oliver!.
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BY BILLY SUTER
RAPPER-ACTOR Ice Cube as Fagin, leader of the infamous gang of young pickpockets in a Disney movie remake of the Oscar-winning 1968 musical, Oliver!? You’d better believe it.
Playbill has reported that Ice Cube will also be co-producing the planned film which will reportedly be scripted by Danny Strong, co-creator of the hit television series Empire and an Emmy-winner for HBO’s Game Change. Strong, by the way, is said to also be working on a new stage adaptation of the musical Chess.
The new Oliver! is apparently to be directed by Thomas Kail, a Tony winner for the musical Hamilton, and Marc Platt and Jeff Kwatinetz have been listed in reports as others producing.
No further casting has been announced, although it was reported elsewhere earlier that chart-topping British diva Adele was rumoured to be in consideration for the role of Nancy, the character who befriends and helps the orphan boy of the show title.
Oliver! features a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. Based on Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist, it tells of a small orphan who escapes from a workhouse and lends up with a gang thieves headed by the conniving Fagin.
The show’s popular songs include Food, Glorious Food, You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two, As Long as He Needs Me, Oom Pah Pah, Reviewing the Situation, As Long As He Needs Me, Consider Yourself I’d Do Anything, Where is Love? and It’s a Fine Life.
.....SoSuterBill..... 