Starz is developing a new series from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson titled The Case of Cyntoia Brown.
RELATED: STARZ Orders Courteney Cox-Led Horror Comedy Shining Vale to Series
The limited drama series will be inspired by the real-life story of Cyntoia Brown-Long, who served 15 years of a life sentence for killing a man when she was 16-years-old. Jackson has been a long-time supporter of Brown-Long and will lean on Santa Sierra (known for their work on Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Vida and Narcos) to write the limited series. Brown-Long and her husband Jamie Long will consult on the project.
Based on Brown-Long’s book, Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System, the show will focus on the story of Brown-Long. She was a victim of sex trafficking at the hands of her boyfriend and was tried as an adult leading her to be sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery and first-degree murder. Despite her being a minor, Brown-Long’s sentence required her to serve at least 51 years before being eligible for parole.
For years, Brown-Long maintained that the killing was an act of self-defense, and throughout the years, her case has gained notoriety. Brown-Long received support from many celebrities such as La La Anthony, who will executive produce the series. Brown-Long was eventually granted clemency and released in 2019, earning her associate’s and bachelor’s degree in prison. She is now an advocate for criminal justice reform and victims of trafficking, and her story has helped amend juvenile sentencing guidelines in Tennessee.
RELATED: Dan Stevens Joins Starz Watergate Drama Series Gaslit
“We’re honored to be entrusted with Cyntoia’s story, which shines a light on the injustice of a system that tried and sentenced an at-risk minor as an adult when she was a victim herself of sex trafficking,” said Christina Davis, President of Original Programming for STARZ. “This limited series from Curtis, La La and Santa chronicles Cyntoia’s long journey to freedom and furthers our #TakeTheLead programming mandate centered on narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences.”