Mary J. Blige is having a pretty big summer.
Back in June, she was honored with the BET Lifetime Achievement award. Then, not even a week later she signed a first-look TV deal at Lionsgate under her new production banner, Blue Butterfly Productions. THEN, that very same week, Blige joined Kelly Oxford’s upcoming film Pink Skies Ahead. And to top things off she was just recently cast in an undisclosed role in the Power spin-off, Power, Book Two: Ghost.
According to Variety though, Blige has added even more to her plate as she’s now developing a new show for the USA Network.
Titled Philly Reign, the series will tell the real-life story of Thelma Wright, a drug queenpin in the 1980s. Wright went from stay-at-home mom and loving wife to ruthless drug lord in less than five years. She was forced to run the ‘family business’ after the passing of her husband or watch her family fall into disarray and poverty. No casting details have been released yet.
Blige is set to executive produce the series alongside Wright herself. JaNeika and JaSheika James, best known for producing and writing on Empire, are attached to serve the same roles on Philly Reign. Ashaunna Ayars, Q. Nicole Jackson, Charles Murray, and Drew Comins are also serving as executive producers on the show.
Philly Reign has yet to receive a release date or even a release window. So, I wouldn’t expect to see it until late 2020 or 2021.
