Director Lee Daniels and Danny Strong aren’t sweating their snub by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and are pushing forward with a new hip-hop drama inspired by JAY Z for FOX, The Hollywood Reporter announced.
Daniels and Strong, who penned the Lee Daniels’ The Butler script, received news that their drama pilot, “Empire,” has been picked up by FOX after a multiple network bidding war.
“Empire” is reportedly a family drama set in the world of a hip-hop empire, inspired by the JAY Z story, and will give audiences a behind-the-scenes look into the hip-hop industry. The series will feature both original and current music. Producers and songwriters for the original music have not been announced yet. Strong will take the reins as lead writer, while Daniels will direct the series. Daniels and Strong will also produce alongside Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo. Imagine Entertainment producer Grazer has been vocal about his passion for hip-hop culture and is assisting in bringing the character-driven series to the small screen.
“Empire” marks Daniels’ first foray into television. He is said to be working on a Richard Pryor biopic after Ava Duvernay replaced him on the Martin Luther King Jr. biopic, Selma, once he left the project.
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