EXCLUSIVE: Jeremy O. Harris, the playwright behind the acclaimed stage play Slave Play, has signed on to script a film adaptation of Ales Kot’s 2019 graphic novel The New World for Warner Bros and Populace.

Released via Image Comics, the comic is described as a genre-bending sci-fi that follows the lives of two lovers who go on the run as they navigate the New World order.

Populace founder Tamir Muhammad, who served on an executive producer on HBO’s Peabody-winning series Random Acts of Flyness, is producing the pic, which comes under his overall with Warners. Cate Adams and Rebecca Cho will oversee production on behalf of the studio.

Slave Play, a comedy-drama about race, sexual fetishes and the undying legacy of American slavery, opened on Broadway last October. With its controversial and thought-provoking mix of American slavery archetypes and sexuality, it was greeted enthusiastically by critics. The play, which is produced by Jake Gyllenhaal’s Nine Stories company, is slated to end its 17-week engagement January 19.

Harris is repped by ICM Partners, manager Kevin Rowe, and Granderson Des Rochers, LLP. Muhammad is repped by Brillstein and Granderson Des Rochers, LLP.