Variety reports that Mandalay Pictures has purchased the rights to do a film adaptation of "Julius" for F. Gary Gray ("The Italian Job") to direct. "Julius" is described as a contemporary urban crime adaptation of William Shakespeare’s "Julius Caesar." The graphic novel was written by Antony Johnston and illustrated by Brett Weldele.

The story tells of Julius, the gangster kind of the East End and a plot by his own general to overthrow him.

Eric Gitter will produce the film for Oni Press, the publishers of the novel.