Card game Uno to become hip-hop heist movie with rapper Lil Yachty

In the strangest movie world story of the week, the card game Uno is set to serve as the inspiration for a heist comedy set in the world of hip-hop.

According to Variety, games company Mattel is currently developing the project with an eye on rapper Lil Yachty for the lead role.

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Lil Yachty is known for incorporating sounds from pop culture as samples in his music, including the Rugrats theme tune and the startup sound of Nintendo’s GameCube console.

He made his film debut as the voice of Green Lantern in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and also appeared in the Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron comedy Long Shot.

“I played Uno as a kid and still do today, so to spin that into a movie based on the Atlanta hip-hop scene I came out of is really special. It hits close to home for me,” said the rapper.

Watch: Lil Yachty talks about inclusion in music

Actor and screenwriter Marcy Kelly has penned a script for the movie, which is set against the backdrop of hip-hop music in Atlanta.

Exec producer Robbie Brenner said that Mattel wants to “explore stories that bring our brands to life in unexpected ways”, which certainly covers this one.

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He added: “Uno is a game that transcends generations and cultures and we look forward to partnering with Lil Yachty, as well as with [producers] Coach, P, and Brian Sher, to transform the classic Uno game into a comedic action adventure.”

The project is at a very early stage, with no other cast members formally attached and no release plans announced.

Mattel Films is developing a series of films based on its toy and game properties, with some considerably odder than others.

Their most high-profile project is a live-action outing for the Barbie doll, which was initially conceived with Diablo Cody involved in the script and Amy Schumer set to star before being replaced by Anne Hathaway.

Hathaway also stepped down, with Margot Robbie stepping up and husband and wife duo Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig now due to write the script, with the latter possibly directing.

Read more: Margot Robbie teases a surprising Barbie movie

The company has also enlisted Daniel Kaluuya to shepherd a new movie based on children’s TV icon Barney the Dinosaur.

When the project was announced, it was bizarrely suggested that the movie will “surprise audiences and subvert expectations” when it comes to the wholesome purple dinosaur.

Watch: Margot Robbie teases Barbie doll movie