Disney and Ice Cube Are Teaming Up to Give Oliver Twist a Modern, Well, Twist

Oliver Twist is about to get some street cred, for real.

The Charles Dickens novel about an orphan boy who moves from a life as a child worker to becoming recruited by London pickpocket gang leader Fagin has become the inspiration for yet another adaptation, but this time it’s getting a modern makeover.

E! News has learned that Disney is joining forces with Ice Cube and Hamilton director Thomas Kail to recreate the work based on the famous book as a musical with a twist, if you will.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, who first reported the story, 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.”

Disney already dabbled with Oliver Twist back in 1988 by giving it the animated treatment and releasing Oliver and Company. Perhaps the most notable adaptation, however, is the stage musical Oliver!

Cube is obviously no stranger to creating greatness on the big screen, most recently drawing from his personal past and time in rap group N.W.A. The rapper turned actor and producer produced Straight Outta Compton, and Oscar nominated film chronicling the group’s rise and ultimate separation.

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.

Sounds like quite the dream team, if you ask us.