Universal Pictures has purchased the rights to Humbug, a modern film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story A Christmas Carol, Deadline Hollywood reports.

The film will be directed by Tim Story and star Ice Cube as the lead character, Scrooge. The rapper will act as a hardened real estate mogul who is humbled by visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

Cube is also listed as a producer for the film, which saw offers from MGM, New Line and Disney.

The site reports a 2017 release date that was not confirmed by the studio.

Story and Cube have worked together on 2002’s Barbershop and reunited for 2014’s Ride Along, which co-stars Kevin Hart. Ride Along 2is scheduled for a January 15 release date.

Universal is the company who made Straight Outta Compton, which Ice Cube produced with Dr. Dre and Eazy-E‘s widow. The box office behemoth depict’s N.W.A‘s rise to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

For additional Ice Cube coverage, watch the following DX Daily:

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD