Will Smith and Queen Latifah join forces for hip hop adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet"

It was only a matter of time until the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet was told through a contemporary hip hop-inspired lens.

Thankfully, the project is in good hands and two industry veterans have been recruited to help tell the timeless story, which has been adapted in a variety of ways throughout history.

As reported by Variety, Will Smith and Queen Latifah will both play a behind-the-scenes role in the currently untitled movie, which is being developed in partnership with Netflix. Smith, who previously starred in the Netflix original movie Bright, has signed on as an executive producer, while Latifah and Shakim Compere of Flavor Unit Entertainment will produce alongside Dave Broome and Yong Yam for 25/7 Productions.

The film, which will be based on William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” is being described as a “contemporary, musical take” on the iconic love story. It will be set in New York and will follow a young waitress from the streets of Brooklyn and an aspiring musician from a wealthy family. Much like the 1597 original, the two characters will be forced to confront their life choices and navigate their contrasting upbringings.

As reported, Solvan “Slick” Naim, who is behind Netflix’s latest series “It’s Bruno,” will direct from a script he co-wrote with Broome. Additional details, such as when the musical will make its debut on the streaming service, have not yet been confirmed.

In related news, Beyoncé’s “Homecoming” documentary recently helped Netflix reach a new audience milestone. As reported, the Netflix exclusive hit an estimated 1.1 million U.S. viewers on its premiere date of April 17. Of that viewership number, a record-setting percentage fell in the young, Black and female demographic.

As part of the Grammy Award-winning singer’s reported $60 million deal with Netflix, she will be releasing two more projects on the streaming platform.