Starz & 50 Cent’s G-Unit developing boxing drama ‘Fightland’

Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson

US network Starz is developing Fightland, a new British boxing drama, alongside Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson.

Writing team Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith (Save Me, Run) will write the scripted series, which follows a retired disgraced world champion fighter drawn into the corrupt underbelly of the sport after the disappearance of his childhood best friend and training partner.

To save his friend, the troubled fighter will have to return to a way of life that nearly destroyed him – one that cost him everything to leave behind.

Jackson will executive produce through his G-Unit Film & Television, along with Francis Hopkinson (Wallander, Bancroft) and Katharine Leadbetter (Woman in White, Catherine the Great) of Expanded Media, who will also produce Fightland for Starz.

Sebastian Arboleda, VP of original programming and Alex Alberts, director of original programming, will oversee the series on behalf of Starz.

Jackson signed an overall deal with Starz in 2018 and this latest collaboration follows their successful partnership on Power, in which Jackson co-starred, exec produced and directed, and its various spin-off series. G-Unit is also behind Black Mafia Family for Starz and is in development on scripted series Queen Nzinga for the network.

“Fightland embodies the stakes, swagger and ambition that collaborations between Starz and 50 Cent have come to represent,” said Kathryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz. “We are excited to be working with Daniel and Marlon who are brilliant writers and whose authentic take will bring this global story to life.”