Starz, Bruckheimer take on Black Samurai

US cablenet Starz is developing an action-drama series in conjunction with US producer Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr (aka Common)

Black Samurai (working title), based on the novels by Marc Olden, is being written by showrunners and husband and wife duo Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, whose credits include the National Treasure movies and Bad Boys II.

The show will star Academy Award winner and rapper Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr (aka Common) as a US soldier whose life changes when he meets a Japanese master who invites him to train as a samurai.

James Oh of Jerry Bruckheimer Television will produce, while Bruckheimer will executive produce alongside Jonathan Littman and Kristie Anne Reed (Lucifer). Common will also be executive producer under his Freedom Road Productions banner, along with Wu-Tang Clan member Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (aka RZA) for Wu Films.

Patrick McDonald, VP of original programming at Starz, will oversee the show for the US cablenet, which was acquired by Lionsgate earlier this year. Starz will retain all global distribution and home entertainment rights.

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (aka RZA)

Carmi Zlotnik, Starz president of programming, said the show “promises to be an action-packed ride and with the Bruckheimer team, Common, RZA and Andre at the helm, we can feel certain this will be exceptional storytelling.”

It is the second drama announcement from Starz within a month, after it revealed details of a supernatural thriller from Twilight creator Stephanie Meyer and Stephen Garrett, executive producer of The Night Manager.