Rick Famuyiwa’s Next Feature Is Kung Fu Graphic Novel Adaptation ‘Son of Shaolin’

After exiting the long-in-development Flash movie for Warner Bros., Dope director Rick Famuyiwa has been searching around fir his next project. And it looks like he’s finally found it, as he’s entered negotiations direct an adaptation of modern-day kung fu graphic novel Son of Shaolin.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Famuyiwa is in talks with Columbia Pictures, who acquired the rights to the comic. Dwayne Johnson will produce, along with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia under their Seven Bucks Productions.

Here’s the synopsis of the comic, via Image Comics:

A kung-fu epic set in the back alleys and subway tunnels of Harlem, New York. Kyrie, an aspiring street artist who is struggling to make ends meet, learns that he is the last living descendant of a secret sect of ancient Shaolin elders. Confused and unsure of where to turn, he finds a father figure in the mysterious Master Fong. Fong trains Kyrie in martial arts in anticipation of an attack from Red Fist, a relentless killer who has already murdered the rest of Kyrie’s bloodline.

Jay Longino, one of the creators of the comic, wrote the script for the movie and will executive produce. Famuyiwa was attached to direct the DCEU solo Flash movie, but left the project in October after about six months of development, citing creative differences, as you do. 2015’s Dope is a great movie, and it’s exciting to see Famuyiwa back at it again with something that sounds like it’ll be extremely cool.