Common to star in Black Samurai TV series

Rapper/actor Common has been cast as the lead in the TV adaptation of Black Samurai.

The Oscar and Grammy winner will take on Robert Sand and his heroic alter-ego in the project, which is based on author Marc Olden’s 1974 book series of the same name.

Sand trains with a Japanese samurai master and subsequently becomes a martial arts expert. After facing racism in the military, he seeks revenge against the corrupt leaders who took his friends' lives and becomes a killing machine.

Common isn't the only hip-hop star attached to the project - Wu-Tang Clan rapper/actor/filmmaker RZA is executive producing the series.

Fellow executive producer Andre Gaines, who scored the rights to the books, recently raved about RZA's involvement, stating, "There is a long tradition and storied relationship between hip-hop and martial arts," Gaines said in a statement. "Having RZA and the Wu-Tang brand on board to executive produce will validate the series even more and mobilize the fans."

Black Samurai was previously adapted for the big screen in 1977, when Jim Kelly portrayed Sand.