Big news for Timbaland: The super producer was recently recruited by Fox to join the team for its forthcoming hip-hop drama from the writers behind The Butler.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Timbaland will serve as songwriter and song producer on drama pilot Empire.
Empire, written by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, will star Hustle & Flow co-stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.
The show will feature original and current music as the plot revolves around a hip-hop empire and the family that runs it.
Howard is reported to play Lucious Lyon, the head of a record label while Henson will play Cookie Lyon, the ex-wife of Lucious.
Jussie Smollett, sibling of Jurnee Smollett, will star as Jamal Lyon, the middle of the couple's three sons. In an interesting plot twist, Lucious has an issue with their Jamal's homosexuality and that puts him at odds with his ex who served 17 years for dealing drugs; money Lucious used to build his music empire.
Daniels is slated to make his television directing debut with the upcoming series. The series will be executive produced by Daniels, Strong and Francie Calfo alongside Brian Grazer from 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine.
Timbaland has been quite busy these days. This past year, he produced and co-wrote multiple tracks on some of the biggest albums of 2013.
He was featured on Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail, Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience Part I and II and Beyonce's self-titled album.
