Jay Z & “Empire” Exec Team Up For New Biopic

Written By Cyrus Langhorne

Jay-Z
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Music mogul Jay Z and filmmaker Lee Daniels have teamed up for a major project. The duo are gearing up to tell the life story of late comedy icon Richard Pryor.

According to reports, Young Hov and Daniels are set to start the film’s production next year.

Lee Daniels has committed to directing The Weinstein Company’s Richard Pryor biopic with Jay Z on board to produce. The Weinstein Company had decided in May to postpone the project, titled “Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said,” after Daniels, the showrunner of Fox’s hit series “Empire,” left the helming gig when he was unable to fit the movie shoot into his schedule. A start date is now set for early 2017. (Variety)

Jigga held a press conference yesterday (October 6) to officially announce plans to launch an upcoming TV series based on the late Kalief Browder.

“Time: The Kalief Browder Story” is set to air as a six-part series beginning in January. The episodes will feature dramatic reenactments of Browder’s life as well as interviews with friends and family members and archival footage. Browder’s story of being thrown into solitary confinement without even being charged with a crime has galvanized prison reform efforts to ban isolationist policies for juvenile offenders. (Variety)

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During the press conference, Jay explained the importance of getting Browder’s story out to the masses.

“It’s inhumane,” he told a room of reporters at a Manhattan press conference on Thursday, his voice heavy with emotion. “It’s difficult for me to find the words, it’s so inhumane. … We’re the voice. … We’re society. We affect change. We can change everything. … Our voices are stronger than ever. If everyone in this room is like, ‘I don’t agree with this happening to a 16-year-old,’ then it won’t happen again. It’s that simple.” (Rolling Stone)

Buzz developed last week about Jay aiming to focus on Kalief’s life with a new TV deal.

Next week Jay Z will unveil the details of the first project in his new film and television deal with The Weinstein Company – a “groundbreaking television event series” about the late Kalief Browder, who was arrested in 2010 for second-degree robbery and imprisoned for three years with no conviction. He was only 16-years-old when he was first charged. Two of his years in Rikers Island were spent in solitary confinement. He was released in 2013 after his case was dismissed due to so many trial postponements. In that time, Browder maintained his innocence and refused a plea deal. (FACT)

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Written by Cyrus Langhorne

SOHH.com Writer. When I'm not covering hip-hop news and announcements, I'm deep into an Audible book and eating veggies.

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