Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s ambitious plan to develop a production base in Louisiana for his G-Unit Studios took another step forward as the state revealed a finalized deal for an investment and redevelopment plan.
Under the agreement, Jackson’s company will invest $124 million to renovate venue space Stageworks, update a production campus formerly owned by Millennium Studios and build a “dome-style immersive venue and green space park” in the city of Shreveport, the Louisiana Economic Development office stated on Monday. The state said it agreed to provide $50 million “in performance-based funding” for infrastructure at those sites.
“By reinvesting in downtown Shreveport and upgrading existing assets to create state-of-the-art entertainment and production facilities, we are creating jobs, inspiring hope, attracting new productions, and giving the entire entertainment industry a reason to build their futures right here,” Jackson stated.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry added, “we’re thrilled to welcome yet another project that sees the strength, talent and potential of this region.”
Two years ago this April, Jackson held a press conference and unveiled blueprints for G-Unit Studios in the city, likening the plan to the expansive production soundstage space that Tyler Perry had built outside of Atlanta. A long-term lease with the city for Stageworks was announced last year.
Jackson had a longtime, sometimes contentious producing partnership with Starz owing to the hit Power franchise and its spinoffs. In late October, Starz formally canceled drama series BMF after four seasons. A month later, in response to a Hollywood Reporter earnings article on Starz $53 million in quarterly losses, 50 Cent wrote on Instagram, “See what happens when I stop working, let’s make STARZ great again.”
On Starz’ earnings call in November president Jeffrey Hirsch called out the Jackson and G-Unit produced boxing drama Fightland as the company’s first studio original greenlit since its spinoff from Lionsgate. The series is currently in production in London.
G-Unit produces for multiple studios and has broadened its scope to nonfiction, audio, film and television. The company inked a deal with Fox Entertainment in 2023 to develop new projects (one such project: 50 Ways to Catch a Killer, for Fox Nation). It’s also developing Ron Stallworth non-fiction tome The Gangs of Zion as a Hulu project titled Hip Hop Cop.
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