July 8, 2015
By Patrick Hipes
A&E Network has picked up The Infamous, a hip-hop crime drama set in Los Angeles to be written and executive produced by Joshua Zetumer, the film scribe whose credits include the Robocop remake and the upcoming X-Men spinoff Gambit starring Channing Tatum and to be directed by Rupert Wyatt. A&E Studios is producing with Color Force, with the latter’s Nina Jacobson’s and Brad Simpson also executive producing.
The Infamous is a centers on centers on two complicated men on a collision course: an ambitious reformed gangster poised to break out of South Central and the LAPD detective hell-bent on taking him down. It will be set against real events in turbulent 1990s Los Angeles leading up to the LA Riots.
“Original scripted series have become an increasingly important part of the A&E brand,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP and head of programming at A&E. “By looking a few decades back in time, The Infamous urgently explores the issues of racial tension and injustice that remain relevant today.”
A&E most recently cancelled its drama series The Returned, a remake of the acclaimed French series, after one season. That was the second drama that didn’t make it as a companion to the network’s flagship Bates Motel; Those Who Kill was swiftly cancelled the previous season. The Psycho prequel meanwhile, just landed a two-season, 20-episode pickup for Season 4 and Season 5.
Zetumer is repped by UTA, Management 360 and attorney Rob Szymanski. Jacobson and Simpson are repped by CAA and attorney Skip Brittenham.