Idris Elba to Star in Hunchback of Notre Dame Netflix Movie
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is, obviously, one of the most revered works of 19th century gothic romantic literature, adapted by countless forms of media, notably in the 1996 Disney animated film. Now, it appears that Netflix is planning its own version of the (public-domain-accessible) classic tale, with superstar Idris Elba!
Idris Elba plans to pull the proverbial bell rope for Netflix’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame project as its star, reports THR. In addition to the starring role, Elba plans to tackle the duties of director, producer, and will even produce original music for the feature!
With Disney still seemingly intent on adding The Hunchback of Notre Dame to the recent array of live-action movie adaptations of its iconic (immensely profitable,) animated hits, as well as the presence of a Josh Brolin-starring Quasimodo film project, Elba’s Netflix version will look to distinguish itself in advance. The project is described as a “modern day re-telling” which plans to showcase a “sonic and musical experience.”
When Elba starts running back and forth between the director’s chair and the front of the camera, he will work off a script by Michael Mitnick (The Current War, The Giver) that adapts the 1831 novel by Victor Hugo, which was originally published as Notre-Dame de Paris, or, “Our Lady of Paris.” Indeed, the Netflix project will still follow the classic love story of hunchback Quasimodo and gypsy beauty Esmerelda, which, unlike the more-sanguine 1996 Disney animated film, was quite the tragedy.
For the ever-busy Idris Elba, Netflix’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame will be added to an acting backlog that includes the upcoming fifth season of Luther and another Netflix project in the upcoming comedy series, Turn Up Charlie, on which he will showcase his real-life spinning skills as a DJ. As for his experience as a director, Elba will release his feature directorial debut, a crime drama called Yardie, this August. However, he’s previously served as producer on pretty much every television show on which he’s appeared.
Elba, who is also a producer on Netflix’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame via his Green Door company, will be joined in that capacity by Fred Berger (La La Land) and Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (Midnight Special), along with Green Door’s Ana Garanito.
We’ll be sure to update you on Netflix’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame as the news arrives!