Empire stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard will reunite on the Peacock limited series, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.
The drama is centered around an armed robbery the night of a historic Muhammad Ali fight.
The show is based on the Will Packer-produced iHeartPodcast “Fight Night,” as previously reported. Packer executive produces the series with Kevin Hart.
Henson is the latest addition to the cast, which also includes Hart and Samuel L. Jackson. Saved by the Bell alum Dexter Darden portrays Muhammad Ali.
Hart stars as Chicken Man, “a hustler trying to level up.” Henson has been cast as Vivian Thomas, Chicken Man’s mistress who is described as “a savvy businesswoman,” according to Variety.
Related Story: Taraji P. Henson Says She Walked Away From ‘Empire’ Spinoff
The official description says the series is set in Atlanta and will tell “the infamous story of how an armed robbery during the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight changed not only one man’s life, but an entire city’s destiny.”
Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Dolemite Is My Name) is co-executive producer and will direct episodes 101 and 102.
Henson previously worked with Brewer on Hustle & Flow. The pair also teamed up on Empire, as Brewer directed several episodes and served as a producer.
The actress most recently played Shug Avery in the movie musical version of The Color Purple, from producers Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.
Her other film credits include the Think Like a Man franchise (alongside Hart), Hidden Figures, What Men Want, No Good Deed, The Karate Kid, Proud Mary, Baby Boy, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which earned her an Oscar nomination.
Fight Night creator and writer Shaye Ogbanna (The Chi, God’s Country) serves as showrunner and co-executive produces the series alongside Jason Horwitch (Echo 3, The Calling).
Additional executive producers include Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Hartbeat; Sabrina Wind for Will Packer Media; Conal Byrne, Lars Jacobson, Will Pearson and Carrie Lieberman for iHeartPodcasts; and podcast co-host Jeff Keating. Tiffany Brown and Kenny Burns are also executive producers.
A release date will be announced later.
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