Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson Joins ‘Payday’ TV Series as Executive Producer

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has established a prolific production history in television, with his G-Unit Film & Television banner behind some of the most popular crime dramas of the last decade. From ‘Power’ to ‘BMF,’ Jackson has consistently demonstrated his ability to transform gritty, high-stakes underworld narratives into hits, and now he’s turning his attention to a new type of source material.

This expansion has been in the works since earlier this year when Vice Studios and video game publisher Starbreeze Entertainment announced plans to adapt the long-running ‘Payday’ heist game franchise for both television and film. The games, which feature a crew of masked criminals executing increasingly ambitious heists, have amassed over $400 million in lifetime revenue and cultivated a community of more than 50 million players since their debut in 2011.

Now, Jackson is officially joining the adaptation, taking on the role of executive producer for the ‘Payday‘ TV series through his G-Unit Film & Television banner, as reported exclusively by Variety. He will collaborate with Vice Studios and Starbreeze to bring the franchise’s world of masked robbers and elaborate heists to life on screen.

Jackson described this partnership as a natural extension of the crime storytelling that has defined his company’s reputation. He stated that collaborating with Vice Studios to adapt ‘Payday’ provides an opportunity to create a high-energy franchise that can advance the heist genre, according to Variety.

‘Payday’ follows a crew of masked criminals whose ambitions know no bounds, as they tackle audacious scores against formidable foes while navigating a world rife with betrayal and conspiracy. This mix of high-octane heist action and morally complex character dynamics aligns closely with the crime drama expertise Jackson has honed through the ‘Power’ universe.

Vice Studios president Amy Powell echoed this sentiment, noting that the studio has always been drawn to stories that push conventional boundaries. She emphasized that Jackson’s team possesses a genuine understanding of what makes ‘Payday’ successful without compromising its edginess. Starbreeze CEO Adolf Kristjansson also expressed strong support, highlighting that both his studio and Jackson’s team share a commitment to not playing it safe with the material.

The ‘Payday’ series adds to an already busy development slate for Jackson’s production company. In addition to the expansive ‘Power’ franchise, which includes ‘Power Book II: Ghost,’ ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan,’ and ‘Power Book IV: Force,’ along with the upcoming ‘Power: Origins’ and ‘Power: Legacy,’ G-Unit is also behind Starz’s ‘BMF’ and the network’s forthcoming series ‘Fightland.’

Jackson’s company is also working on ‘The Accomplice’ at Peacock, featuring Taraji P. Henson in a starring role. While no writer or network has been confirmed for the ‘Payday’ series yet, indicating that the project is still in its early development stages, Jackson’s impressive track record of transforming crime-driven concepts into successful long-running franchises suggests that ‘Payday’ is set to become another significant addition to his expanding television empire.

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