Azealia Banks Starring in ‘Coco’ Movie, Directed by RZA

Lionsgate and its Codeblack Films division have tapped hip-hop artist Azealia Banks to star as the title character in music drama “Coco” with RZA directing.

The role marks Banks’ feature film debut. She unveiled her first album, “Broke With Expensive Taste,” last year.

Common, Jill Scott, Lucien Laviscount, Lorraine Toussaint and Hana Mae Lee will also star. Paul Hall is producing.

RZA directs from a screenplay by Nicole Asher in which an aspiring hip-hop artist struggles to pursue both her music career and fulfill her parents’ dream of finishing college after a record deal goes awry. When she returns to school, Coco discovers the vivid world of slam poetry where she finds her true voice and an unlikely love.

John Sacchi, Bree Bailey and Jessica Switch are overseeing the project for the studio. RZA made his feature directing debut with 2012’s “Man with the Iron Fists.”

The news was first reported by Deadline.com.

Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter