Scoot Over “Empire” & “Power”, Netflix Gets “Down” W/ Its Own Hip-Hop Series

With the seemingly overnight success of hit hip-hop shows like "Power" and "Empire" over the past year, streaming service Netflix is ready to try its hand at the genre with an upcoming series.

According to reports, Netflix’s “The Get Down” will take place in the 1970’s and premiere next year.

The 13-episode series, so far uncast and scheduled to debut next year, will focus on young artists from the South Bronx. It will also incorporate the downtown punk movement, Studio 54, the SoHo art scene and other cultural outliers. It will be produced by Sony Pictures Television and directed by Baz Luhrmann, whose previous work includes “Moulin Rouge,” “Romeo + Juliet” and “The Great Gatsby.” (New York Daily News)

Check out why the show director picked New York as its featured city on the next page…

Director Baz Luhrmann has issued a statement this week to dish on his excitement for putting together the series.

“[It’s] a project I have been contemplating and working on now for over 10 years. I’ve been obsessed with the idea of how a city in its lowest moment, forgotten and half destroyed, could give birth to such creativity and originality in music, art and culture.” (Statement)

Over the past year, hip-hop-themed shows “Empire” and “Power” have reaped a lot of early success.

The hip-hop drama marks the latest of its kind. Fox has hit a much-needed ratings paydirt with Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s Empire, already renewed for a second season; and Starz has done the same with its 50 Cent-produced entry Power. Not to be outdone, Viacom-owned cabler VH1 is also readying The Breaks, a drama series based on Dan Charnas’ best-selling book The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, which is wildly considered one of the most comprehensive accounts of the history and business of hip-hop. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Recent reports revealed “Empire” was one of three Fox series that would live to see another season.

Fox just announced three early series renewals — and one is really early. As expected, the network has picked up Gotham for a second season and Brooklyn Nine-Nine for a third season. But far less expected (at least this soon) is that Fox has renewed hip-hop drama Empire for a second season. (Entertainment Weekly)