Sky Boards 50 Cent’s British Boxing Drama ‘Fightland’ With Starz
British broadcaster Sky is once again stepping into the ring with Starz, this time for the boxing drama “Fightland,” produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
Sky has joined Starz as a co-commission partner on the series, set in the cutthroat, high-stakes world of British boxing, and has already collaborated with the US network on projects including period drama ‘Amadeus’ and dark comedy thriller ‘Sweetpea’. The co-commission deal also includes Sky future first look partnerships for select upcoming series from Starz.
Described as a gripping story of redemption, betrayal and brutal ambition in and out of the ring, ‘Fightland’ follows Maduka ‘Duke’ Kilroy (Howard Charles), a disgraced, formerly incarcerated boxing champion who returns to London to take revenge on the crime family he believes betrayed him.
The eight-episode series – which recently wrapped its first season in London – will air in the US later this year on the Starz app and platform, and will air on Sky and streaming service NOW in the UK and Ireland. It is produced by Jackson through his G-Unit Film & Television and is the first series to be wholly owned by Starz.
“We are excited to step back into the ring with our partners at Sky and look forward to building on the next chapter of our long-standing creative partnership,” said Kathryn Busby, president of original programming, Starz. “‘Fightland’ delivers a dynamic mix of action and fearless, character-driven storytelling set against the vibrant backdrop of British boxing. We’re proud to debut this bold drama as our first wholly owned original series.”
Katie Keenan, group director of acquisitions for Sky UK and Europe, said: “‘Fightland’ is a bold and compelling British production with a distinctive voice and the potential for real global impact. We are proud to partner with Starz to continue to offer premium, character-driven storytelling for our customers. This series is an excellent fit for our growing Sky audience who are drawn to ambitious, high-impact drama.”
Jackson is executive producing, along with Francis Hopkinson (“Wallander,” “Bancroft”) and Kate Leadbetter (“Woman in White,” “Catherine the Great”) of Expanded Media, who are also producing. Damione Macedon (“Power,” “BMF,” “Genius: MLK/X”) and Raphael Jackson Jr. (“Power,” “BMF,” “Genius: MLK/X”) are showrunners, executive producers and writers. Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith serve as executive producers and writers.
