Janelle monae cast in disneys live action lady and the tramp remake
Photo Credit: Vickey Ford for Okayplayer
Photo Credit: Vickey Ford for Okayplayer
The Wondaland empire expands.
There's no stopping Janelle Monáe. The 32-year-old artist and record label exec has inked a first-look deal with Universal Pictures for the film arm of her Wondaland production company.
READ: Janelle Monáe is Redefining What it Means to Be a Genius
According to Deadline, Wondaland Pictures will focus on bringing groundbreaking artists and perspectives from marginalized communities to the screen. Donna Langley, Chairman of Universal Pictures, states that "There is an exciting, artistic revolution taking place in our industry, and Janelle and the talented team at Wondaland are at the forefront." Langley adds, "Their forward-thinking, inclusive approach to content and storytelling make them a perfect fit for our studio."
LISTEN: Janelle Monáe's Cover of Bob Marley's “High Tide Or Low Tide”
Speaking to Fast Company, Monáe notes that the Wondaland team (comprised Managing Partner Mikael Moore, Creative Director Chuck Lightning, and Executive Producer Nate Wonder) contributes to both film and music projects. And the workflow is "protected from people who don’t understand the metamorphosis – the many stages it takes to create art."
There's no mention of the expansion's first project, but Monáe can be seen in Universal's Welcome to Marwin, directed by Robert Zemeckis (in theaters on December 21st,) and Focus Features' upcoming Harriet Tubman documentary, Harriet, which is expected to be released in 2019.
