Veritgo's 'Prince of Cats.'

When it comes to Shakespeare, there are basically two settings for an adaptation: New York City, and outer space. From Ethan Hawke's Hamlet to Men of Honor (in which John Turturro plays an Italian mobster whose rise to power resembles the story of a certain Scottish play), to West Side Story, the Bard's work has often been played against the backdrop of bustling NYC.

And while the conceit of a modern take on Shakespeare might be worn in theory (O, anyone?), Veritgo's new comic book, Prince of Cats, found a way to update the most cliched classic--Romeo and Juliet--without it coming off as kitschy.

Maybe it's the subject matter: Instead of focusing on the two lovers, Prince of Cats turns its eye on Tybalt, Juliet's tyrannical cousin. In the story written and illustrated by Ronald Wimberly (who has done graphic work on issues of Lucifer, Swamp Thing and John Constantine, among others), the story is as much about hip-hop and urban life as it is about love and different names for roses.

While the Montagues and Capulets fight on the tops of buildings and trains, Tybalt angrily fires off cultural allusions to Wu-Tang Clan and The Warriors. And the gritty, street-art inspired illustrations paired with the realistic dialogue will almost make you forget the source material.

Which is good, because we're pretty much done with these adaptations until someone makes an underwater version of King Lear.

Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who produced the 2004 Johnny Depp film Finding Neverland—about the character's creator, J.M. Barrie, and his not-at-all-weird relationship with the Llewelyn Davies family, who inspired the tale—are developing a Broadway musical adaptation.

Screen queen Peggy Siegal, who typically arranges lavish movie premieres for the Weinstein Company and other studios, recently sent out a note to would-be investors inviting them to a special reading of the musical, which features music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie, the team behind Grey Gardens.

Meanwhile, Bob and Harvey are busily ransacking the Miramax back catalog for more material to sprinkle with pixie dust. Also in development are adaptations of Chocolat, Cinema Paradiso and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. We have a director in mind for that one ... she's very experienced with aerial sequences and may have some time on her hands. 

You may be aware of a certain Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. Among his less memorable accomplishments was the penning of a novel, entitled Zabibah and The King, in which the protagonist was an oppressive Iraqi ruler -- basically a stand-in for Saddam, only set in the 12th century.

Sacha Baron Cohen is going to play that oppressive Iraqi ruler.

The team from Borat and Bruno is directing, writing, and producing with Baron Cohen, and the film -- called The Dictator -- will be out May 2012.

Highlight from the super-dry press release: "The film tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed."

And the rest of it is below.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Paramount Pictures announced today that Sacha Baron Cohen’s new comedy THE DICTATOR will be released worldwide on May 11, 2012. The studio also announced that Larry Charles (“Borat,” “Bruno”) has come aboard to direct.

 

The film tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. It is inspired by the best selling novel “Zabibah and The King” by Saddam Hussein.

Producing alongside Baron Cohen are Scott Rudin, Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer, and David Mandel. The project marks the first collaboration for Rudin (“The Social Network,” “True Grit”) and Baron Cohen, while Berg, Schaffer and Mandel (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) join him as screenwriters on the movie. The movie is the latest collaboration between Baron Cohen and Charles, who previously worked together on “Borat” as well as “Bruno.” Dan Mazer (“Borat,” “Bruno”), Ant Hines (“Borat,” “Bruno”) and Peter Baynham (“Borat”) will serve as executive producers, reuniting the rest of the Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe winning “Borat” team. Todd Schulman (“Borat,” “Bruno”) is co-producing under Baron Cohen’s Four By Two Films banner.

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nfreeman [at] observer.com | @nfreeman1234

But today the man who gave us the that satin-soaked orgy-musical Moulin Rouge tossed Gatsby fans a curve ball. What if, Baz wondered to himself, I drank the Kool Aid and did my Gatsby in 3D? Avatar in The Jazz Age! Great plan, right?

Luhrmann told The Hollywood Reporter that he's "workshopped" the film in 3D, in case he decides that the action needs that extra, um, dimension. He hasn't made a call on which format to use, but no doubt the studio will push for 3D, which would allow them to push the ticket price up.

Let's get this out of the way: Filming The Great Gatsby in 3D is an astoundingly stupid idea that we sincerely hope never happens. This is a given.

But what if it actually does happen? Scott Fitzgerald will certainly be rolling in his grave, but here's what we'll have to look forward to!

• Everyone kicking their legs to The Charleston at Gatsby's party. Watch out! That flapper's heel almost hit you in the face!
• Meyer Wolfsheim's cuff links made from human molars. You can almost touch them. How gross! Bonus: in 3D, the metaphor here is even more obvious.
• When that cheating golfer Jordan Baker tees off, the ball flies right by your head. Oh, Jordan. You're so charmingly bad at that silly sport!
• Nick Carraway's collection of bond books. In 3D, they're almost not terrible dry and boring!
• Ah! Gatsby! Look behind you! George Wilson has a gun! You know this because it's an inch away from your face!
• Tom Buchanan punching Myrtle Wilson: it's like you're there in that hot New York apartment. And you're the one getting punched.
• Two words: green light. It will be the greatest light of any kind ever captured on celluloid. You want to try and make that powerful of a light in a 2D movie? 2D is the past, man, we have 3D for that kind of stuff now. It eluded us then, but that's no matter -- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further... and one fine morning --

Excited yet? You better be, because this movie is already not going to be cheap -- Baz has to pay Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan for their parts. So if it's in 3D? Let's just say Daisy's voice isn't the only thing full of money.

nfreeman at observer.com |@nfreeman1234

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Whatever you think of the source material (and we generally think Shakespeare is first-rate!), it has led to some pretty bad cinema. Here, a Cavalcade of Shakespearean Misfires >>

Now, that over-the-top book title is going to become an over-the-top movie title. We're about to see high-speed jets, hot-air balloons and Rock 'n' Roll bands all come to the big screen.

But how can a single actor embody the man, the myth and the legend that is Sir Richard Branson? Well, the beknighted billionaire has someone in mind. Apparently it's some dude from this vampire movie or something?

Q: Who would play you in a movie of your life?

A: Robert Pattinson from "Twilight." He's English … and he's young!

When casting gets word of the boss's pick, there's no doubt that the guy most famous for playing a vampire will step into the role of the ruthless businessman. Insert bloodsucking joke here!

nfreeman [at] observer.com | @nfreeman1234