This is one of at least 2 projects on the Black Mafia Family (B.M.F.) that we’ve covered on this blog in the last couple of years. This one from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will be backed by Emmett/Furla/Oasis, as was previously announced 3 years ago; although the project’s status since then hasn’t been public information. But thanks to a new 50 Cent interview, it appears to still be very much alive.
The Emmett/Furla connection shouldn’t be a surprise. You should recall 50 Cent’s 10-picture, $200 million agreement with George Furla’s Hedge Fund Film Partners via his Cheetah Vision Films production company, as well as Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment Group renewing their film slate deal with Emmet/Furla and Fiddy’s Cheetah Vision Films, for an additional 10 films, expanding their overall relationship.
The deal was struck 4 years ago. This project falls under that agreement. Although it may be a TV series and not a feature film.
Speaking to TV Guide in an exclusive interview yesterday, the busy Mr. Cent shared that he’s bringing his B.M.F. saga to the Starz network, where he has an overall development agreement as well (“Power” and his superhero-themed “Tomorrow, Today” both are Fiddy/Starz projects).
“[There are] so many people involved,” Fiddy said, speaking to how elaborate the B.M.F. story is. “We have so much true [content]… People know the surface parts, but what makes the [B.M.F.] become that? That’s more interesting to me than the actual outcome.”
The suggestion here is that the Starz series (we assume) will tell the story of how the Black mafia Family became the Black Mafia Family – the notorious drug cartel created in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1980s, by Demetrius “Big Meech” and Terry Flenory. Over the following decade, their organization grew into a hugely successful nationwide enterprise, as they began to use their financial gains in the drug game to branch out into other businesses, like creating a hip-hop music label called BMF Entertainment, promoting the careers of artists, some fairly well known, like Young Jeezy.
But the castle they built all came crashing down in the mid-2000s, when they were busted, indicted and convicted on charges of running a criminal enterprise that allegedly grossed over $270 million during the period of its existence. Both brothers were sentenced to prison for 30 years to life. Other members of their organization would also face jail sentences.
That’s the shortened version of their story.
An unrelated documentary feature on the B.M.F. is currently available on home video. It hails from Errante Films Productions/Image Entertainment/Joe Rock Productions, and is titled “B.M.F.: The Rise and Fall of a Hip-Hop Drug Empire,” directed by D. Sikorski.
Say what you will about Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson/Fiddy/Mr. Cent/etc, the man is busy building his media empire. His Starz’s original drama series “Power,” which stars Omari Hardwick and Naturi Naughton, has been a ratings smash for the network, and has already been renewed for a 3rd season, after a blockbuster start to its 2nd season last month. He’s also developing a superhero-themed series for Starz, “Tomorrow, Today,” which you can read about here if you missed it.
Below you’ll find an old History channel report on the B.M.F.
