With his breakout role as Dr. Dre in Universal and Legendary’s “Straight Outta Compton” already receiving early praise, Corey Hawkins is reteaming with Legendary on its “King Kong” prequel, “Kong: Skull Island.”

Hawkins is in negotiations to join Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson in the action tentpole. Jordan Vogt-Roberts directs the pic, and Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce with Mary Parent. Alex Garcia and Eric McLeod exec produces.

While plot details are still vague, the story will be set in the mysterious, dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the island.

Max Borenstein, John Gatins and Dan Gilroy penned the script.

Legendary seems to want to keep building on this relationship following early reviews of the N.W.A. biopic that signal the film could be a sleeper hit this summer. Besides “Straight Outta Compton,” Hawkins can also be seen in the upcoming season of AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

Hawkins graduated from Juilliard and quickly landed a role in the most recent Broadway production of “Romeo and Juliet.” He is repped by ICM Partners, Authentic Talent and Literary Management and Jackoway Tyerman.