Crime dramas have been around for decades, and some of the best television shows of all time have come from the genre. The Wire, The Sopranos and Breaking Bad are still being watched, debated and rediscovered years after their finales.
Then in 2014, 50 Cent and Courtney A. Kemp gave audiences Power.
More than a decade later, what started as one series has turned into an entire universe. Between the original show and its spinoffs, 50 Cent has found a formula that works, while still finding ways to introduce new characters and stories that keep audiences invested. And with Power: Origins recently announced, that universe isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
But his latest series takes us somewhere completely different.
Premiering July 31, Fightland brings the crime drama to London and centers its story around the city’s boxing world. The series also marks a major milestone for STARZ as its first wholly owned original series, making Fightland the beginning of a new chapter for the network.
The BlkScript got an early look at the premiere, which also brought out some familiar faces from the STARZ family, including Wendell Pierce, La La Anthony, Tristan “Mack” Wilds and Naturi Naughton.
From the first few minutes, Fightland gets right into it. There’s no long wait for the story to pick up or for you to figure out where the conflict is coming from. By the end of the episode, there are already enough questions to make you want to see what happens next.
The series follows a former heavyweight boxing champion who finds himself behind bars after being betrayed by a crime family. Once he’s released, revenge is at the top of his list.
It’s a familiar setup for anyone who loves a good crime drama, but placing the story inside London’s boxing scene gives Fightland something different. There’s the grit and tension you’d expect from a 50 Cent produced series, but it doesn’t feel like Power with a London accent. The boxing world gives the show its own backdrop and another layer of stakes beyond what’s happening in the streets.
The cast also introduces viewers to some new faces, including Howard Charles, Nicholas Pinnock and Deborah Ayorinde.
And based on episode one, there’s plenty to work with.
50 Cent has spent the last decade proving that he understands what audiences want from this type of television. Complicated characters, loyalty that can change at any moment, family dynamics, power struggles and, of course, somebody looking for revenge.
Fightland has all of that, just this time across the pond.
We’ll have to see where the season takes us, but after getting an early look, 50 Cent might have another one.
Fightland premieres July 31 on STARZ.
- Alina Braye