Starz picks up 50 Cent drama

US premium cable network Starz has ordered an original series from rapper Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson’s prodco G-Unit Film & Television.

Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson

Black Mafia Family is inspired by the true story of two brothers, Demetrius ‘Big Meech’ and Terry ‘Southwest T’ Flenory. They rose from the streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980s and created one of the most influential crime families in the US.

The series will be produced by Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television in association with Starz and Lionsgate Television. Black Mafia Family is written by Randy Huggins, who will also exec produce alongside Jackson, Terri Kopp and Anthony Wilson. Kathryn Tyus-Adair will oversee the project on behalf of Starz.

Jeffrey Hirsch, Starz president and CEO, said: “This is a project Curtis has always been incredibly passionate about and we are excited to have him as our partner in bringing it to life. Black Mafia Family has all the hallmarks of a great drama, from the larger-than-life Flenory brothers to the deadly, high-stakes world they inhabited. This series is going to be an incredible ride for audiences around the world.”