Tag Archives: Hollywood Reporter

USA Network Buys John Legend Crime Drama, The Edge

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John Legend’s crime drama, The Edge, has been sold to the USA network, Vibe.com reports. Legend inked an exclusive deal with Universal Cable Productions last summer, through his production company Get Lifted Film Co., and the forthcoming project marks his second show to be picked up. USA is the sister network to UCP.  The Edge centers around “an idealistic Harvard Business School graduate named Jeff Cross who joins a progressive financial firm called Edgeton Global, where he discovers the company’s dark secrets while becoming entangled in a high-stakes FBI investigation.” Writing partners, Justin Herber and Adam Hoff will handle the script, and executive produce the series alongside Legend and his partners, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius. “We are very excited about our first sale though our UCP deal and look forward to many more,” Legend, Jackson and Stiklorious said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. In October, Fox acquired one of Legends others shows, which is currently untitled and based around a male character in his 20s who becomes guardian to his siblings. Penned by Tommy Dewey and Greg Bratman, the series is loosely inspired by Legend’s real life. Premiere dates and casting information for both projects have not yet been revealed.

via: hiphopwired.com

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Oxygen Officially Cancels Shawty Lo’s Reality Show “All My Babies’ Mamas”

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Shawty Lo‘s controversial reality show All My Babies’ Mamas has reportedly been canceled before it even had a shot on TV. According to The Daily Beast, Oxygen has supposedly responded to the backlash to the show, which focuses on the rapper and his 11 kids by 10 different mothers. Though the network is yet to confirm the cancelation, the publication claims that sources have revealed it “won’t ever see the light of day.” A trailer for the show originally leaked to the Internet at the end of 2012. Organizers made a petition that reached almost 40,000 signatures, most likely a contribution to the alleged cancelation.

UPDATE: AllHipHop.com has received a statement from Oxygen denying that the show had been canceled. “This rumor is simply untrue. The project remains in early development,” said an Oxygen rep.

UPDATE #2: Contrary to AHH’s previous report, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Oxygen has indeed canceled Shawty Lo’s All My Babies’ Mamas.

“As part of our development process, we have reviewed casting and decided not to move forward with the special. We will continue to develop compelling content that resonates with our young female viewers and drives the cultural conversation,” said an Oxygen rep. via:hiphopdx

Mike Epps Involved In Nightclub Brawl

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Celebrities getting into fights at clubs has become quite the trend since the infamous Chris Brown and Drake bottle bashing. Another celebrity adding his name to the nightclub brawl list is comedian Mike Epps. Epps was involved in a club fight where a gun was fired.

Mike Epps was celebrating his birthday at Tru Nightclub with a group of his friends when things went haywire just after midnight. From what police could ascertain, a fight broke out in the club between members of Epps’ crew and other random club patrons. Things remained verbal until someone pulled out a gun and fired a warning shot.

According to various reports, when shots rang out, everyone scattered toward the exits. Mike Epps ran for the door as well. thankfully, nobody reported any injuries from the incident.

An investigation is currently underway. Police are looking to speak with Mike Epps to get his account of events leading up to the actual gun being pulled and fired.

Mike Epps To Play Richard Pryor In “Nina”

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The oft-delayed Nina Simon biopic is set to begin shooting this week and has added Mike Epps to the cast. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor-comedian will play Richard Pryoralongside Zoe Saldana, who will play the legendary singer and activist.

Saldana’s casting has been the subject of controversy in recent months amid claims that both her appearance and perspective are counter to that of Simone’s. Before Saldana joined Nina, the role had originally been given to Mary J. Blige. As for Epps, he had long wanted to play the iconic comedian and was close to in a separate biopic although that role was ultimately awarded to Marlon Wayans. That project, too, has faced several years of delays.

As for Epps’ function in the upcoming, Nina, THR reports:

In a supporting role, Epps will play Pryor, who opened for the singer when they two were starting out in the early 1960s. Pryor had terrible stage fright and Simone, in her autobiography, recalled how she regularly rocked him into calmness.

Mark Burton, Barnaby Thompson, Stuart Parr and Ben Latham Jones are producing the movie, which starts shooting this week in Los Angeles. Ealing Studios is behind the movie and handling foreign sales.