Salma Hayek to turn Gibran’s `Prophet’ into animated film

Los Angeles: Mexican actress and producer Salma Hayek plans to make an animated film based on Lebanese author Khalil Gibran's novel "The Prophet", The Hollywood Reporter said Thursday.

The book, written in 1923, consists of 26 chapters devoted to topics such as love, marriage, childhood, joy, freedom, death and faith.

Hayek, whose father hails from Lebanon, has teamed up with the Doha Film Institute and Participant Media to bring Gibran's classic to the screen.

Each of the chapters is to be directed by a different director under the coordination of Roger Allers, Oscar-nominated director of "The Lion King".

Directors who have already signed on to the project include Oscar nominees Marjane Satrapi ("Persepolis"), Tomm Moore ("The Secret of Kells"), Joan Gratz ("Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase") and Bill Plympton ("Guard Dog" and "Your Face").

"'The Prophet' has been an incredible source of wisdom and inspiration for millions of people all over the world," Hayek said. "Being of Lebanese descent, I'm particularly proud to be part of a project that will present this masterpiece to new generations, in a way never seen before."