Questlove to direct live-action adaptation of The Aristocats

Deadline reports that the legendary musician, producer, filmmaker and actor is on board to direct a "live-action/hybrid adaptation" of the 1970 original, and it'll mark his feature film directorial debut.

Questlove, real name Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, did take home the Best Documentary (Feature) Academy Award in 2022 for his Summer of Soul film about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which marked his first ever directing role.

As well as directing the upcoming remake of The Aristocats, Questlove is expected to executive produce the film as well as overseeing the music.

Pitchfork reports that Questlove said: "During those first months of the pandemic back in 2020, I allowed my inner nine-year-old to have a voice he wouldn’ta had back in 1980. I made space for myself every day to enjoy an hour or two of fun. (Eventually, it turned into more work: books, nightly DJ sets, films. But it started as fun.) What grew out of that, in part, was nightly viewings of old Disney classics from my childhood. The Aristocats was one of them. Having been involved in Soul that year, I was able to see so-called kids’ art with new eyes, was able to connect with a certain feeling. I don’t think I would have been fully able to find inspiration in those movies if I wasn’t forced by circumstance to sit silent. I needed that pause. (Also, full confession, The Aristocats was how my mom made jazz seem interesting to me back then.) There’s nothing more rewarding than continuing down that same creative path, taking a part of my past and making it part of my future."