In an announcement made Tuesday, Saban Films has purchased the North American rights to John Henry, Will Forbes’ directorial debut that has enlisted the talents of actors Terry Crews and Ludacris. The character of John Henry was a famed figure from the African American folklore and mythology.

Last October, we announced that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was slated to play the folk hero in a Netflix film titled John Henry and the Statesman, from director Jake Kasdan.

However, unlike The Rock’s upcoming version of John Henry, this one will be more of a modern adaptation of the story rather than a straight folktale itself.

This version will star Crews as Henry, who leaves his crime-filled past behind to start anew in the city of Los Angeles. However, his past comes back to haunt him when he encounters and protects two immigrant kids who are fleeing from the leader of the crime gang he was previously part of.

The film is slated for a theatrical release in the first quarter of 2020.

 

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