Hip Hop and Disney are once again colliding, and Questlove is at the helm of a new project. The music veteran has solidified himself as a respected icon in the industry. After helping curate a mega-performance at this year’s Grammys, Quest is moving on to The Artistocats. Deadline exclusively reported that Questlove, real name Ahmir Thompson, will make his official feature film directorial debut with this upcoming project. The remake of Disney’s animated 1970 classic is described as a “live-action/hybrid reimagining.” Additionally, Quest will also overhead the music for the film. It’s unclear if that means the soundtrack, the score, or all.
As far as the talent is concerned, we’ll have to wait for an announcement. Deadline didn’t share if Walt Disney Studios had anyone in mind to star in the film just yet. However, it was revealed that Two One Five Entertainment’s Tarik Trotter, Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman would act as executive producers along with Olive Bridge. This is a huge move for Questlove, who won Best Documentary Feature at last year’s Oscars for Summer of Soul.
Questlove Tackles a Family Favorite
Disney has revisited several of their fan favorites over the years. Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and most recently, The Little Mermaid have all received remakes. The Aristocats centered on a group of cats in Paris who will soon become rich after inheriting money from their owner. However, the butler is looking out for himself and tries to get rid of the felines. The kitties band together and go on a wild adventure to make it back home.
News about Questlove’s latest gigs arrives just one month after Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary was honored at the Grammys. It wouldn’t have happened without the help of The Roots icon, who orchestrated having dozens of Rap’s finest share the stage. It wasn’t an easy feat—some people didn’t get along, others were booked, and a few just didn’t want to participate. The drummer even took the criticism from fans in stride and answered questions from frustrated social media users. Yet, overall, the reception was positive, and many of our pioneers received their deserved flowers. Take a walk down memory lane and check out a clip of The Aristocats above.
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