Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris are coming together to develop new TV series adaptation of Jackson’s co-written book The 50th Law for Netflix, according to Deadline. Jackson who is an executive producer for Starz’ Power franchise and Barris who is the creator and an executive producer for the ABC’s Black-ish franchise are adapting the bestselling book by Jackson and Robert Green (The 48 Laws of Power).
Barris and Hale Rothestien together executive produce Barris’ Netflix comedy series #blackAF. The executive producing duo will write the script for the pilot episode and executive produce the potential series along with Jackson’s G-Unit and Green. Lionsgate TV will also produce the series as part of Jackson’s overall deal with Starz, according to Deadline.
The novel by Jackson and Greene, The 50th Law is a semi-autobiographical account of 50 Cent’s rise as a young black hustler on the streets of Queens, NY and as an up and coming musician. With lessons and anecdotes from historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Sun Tzu, Socrates, Napoleon, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin.
Green is the best selling author behind The 48 Laws of Power, which has sold well over 2 million copies according to Deadline. His books The Art Of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, Mastery, The Laws Of Human Nature and The 50th Law, which he co-wrote with Jackson, have all sold over 1 million copies each.
According to Deadline, Barris’ Khalabo Ink Society recently exited his overall deal with Netflix replacing it with new one from ViacomCBS. Through Khalabo Ink Society Barris has executive produced Netflix series like #blackAF, which has been green lit for a second season. Barris also executive produces the sketch comedy series Astronomy Club, and the upcoming Kid Cudi adult animated music series Entergalactic.
Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television executive Courtney Kemp created Starz drama Power. The series’ universe now has four greenlit spinoffs produced by G-Unit Films & Television. Power Book II: Ghost has second season on the way; Power Book III: Raising Kanan is a prequel series due out later this year; Power Book IV: Force is another greenlit spinoff in the works as well. Part of Jackson’s overall deal with Starz through G-Unit is the currently in production Season 1 of Black Mafia Family as well as Season 2 of ABC’s For Life series, and Family Affair. For Starz, A Moment In Time: Massacre and an untitled Female Sports Agent project, according to Deadline. For Paramount+, G-Unit is developing T.I. led series, Twenty Four Seven.
Barris’ Khalabo Ink Society has already seen the success of two spinoffs from Peabody winning Black-ish series, grown-ish on Freeform and Mixed-ish which airs on ABC. Another greenlit spinoff series Old-ish is currently in development. Barris’ directorial debut will be for an upcoming feature about comic Richard Pryor. His company is working on reboot of the Disney classic Cheaper By The Dozen, starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff, along with several high profile projects including an animated feature based on the music of Bob Marley and a remake of classic sports comedy White Men Can’t Jump, according to Deadline.