Screen Gems is producing a big screen Hip-Hop reinterpretation of Jane Austen’s 1816 comic novel Emma, that was inspired by Harlem/Brooklyn rapper Lil Mama.
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Screen Gems’ CEO Clint Culpepper came up with the idea to remake the novel into a contemporary urban tale, after seeing the video for Lil Mama’s#### single “Lipgloss.”
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The screenplay for the movie, which will be renamed Emme, is being written by Tyger Williams, who has is best known for writing the classic movie Menace II Society.
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Emme will be set in an inner-city high school and revolves around a step-brother and sister. Austen’s Emma was also the inspiration behind the 1995 movie Clueless, which starred Alicia Silverstone.
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The movie is being produced by Chris Bender and J.C. Spink for Screen Gems, which landed box office hits with 2007’s Stomp the Yard and 2004’s You Got Served.
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The news comes as Lil Mama prepares her debut album Voice Of The Young People, which features production from Scott Storch, Cool & Dre, T Pain, James Groove and others.
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Voice Of The Young People includes Lil Mama’s#### single “Shawty Get Loose” featuring T Pain and Chris Brown and is due in stores on April 29.