Idris Elba will soon be heading to Netflix for an adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Elba will star in the lead role of Quasimodo in a modern day re-telling of the famous story.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame was first written by Victor Hugo in 1831 and has been adapted to various film and television several times, most famously by Disney in their animated adaptation in 1996. The French Gothic story follows a deformed man as he falls in love with a gypsy named Esmerelda as they are caught up in the societal politics of France.
Michael Mitnick, the writer of The Current War and The Giver, will write the script for Netflix. Elba will also direct and produce the film through his Green Door production banner. This will be the second time he has directed a film after his Sundance debut of Yardie. Green Door will also produce original music for the film which has been described as a “sonic and musical experience”.
Joining Elba on the production side is his Green Door partner Ana Garanito alongside Fred Berger (La La Land) and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (Midnight Special) for Automatik. There is no word yet on when the film will begin production.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame also marks Elba’s latest collaboration with Netflix after creating the series Turn Up Charlie for the streaming service.
