When a documentary is successful, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it has broken through to the mainstream. There are only a handful of documentaries have ever received wide theatrical releases, and while many docs do find a large audience after being released on DVD or aired on TV, there are still so many people that a documentary may never reach. For this reason, Hollywood studios are becoming more and more interested in taking popular documentaries and turning them into fictionalized feature films that can be marketed to the masses.

Some recent examples include Lords of Dogtown (based on Dogtown and Z-Boys) and Grey Gardens, but many others have been optioned lately including Cocaine Cowboys, The King of Kong, Sherman’s March, Murderball, and Ring of Fire. Last week it was announced that Benson Lee’s breakdancing documentary Planet B-Boy can also be added to this list. The interesting thing, however, is that he initiated the project himself and will also be directing the fictional version.

“B-boying is one of those street dances that has been co-opted in many films but never portrayed authentically… I want to present b-boying for what it actually is, which one of the most powerful street dances out there right now. And with so many countries involved, it presents a different kind of story than what we’re normally used to seeing in street dance films.”

The remake will maintain the international competition angle by following a “legendary b-boy crew that must return to its roots to reclaim the world championship”. They are calling it 8 Mile meets The Warriors. Dave Scott, who choreographed Stomp the Yard and the Step Up series, will also work as choreographer for B-Boy. Hey, if it does well, it may even be lucky enough to get parodied by the Wayans Brothers in the inevitable Dance Flick 2!