Cyntoia Brown Limited Series in Development at Starz

Starz is developing The Case of Cyntoia Brown, a limited drama series inspired by the story of Cyntoia Brown-Long, with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and La La Anthony on board as executive producers.

Based on Brown-Long’s book, Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System, the series tells the story of a woman who was sex trafficked by a boyfriend, tried as an adult at 16 years old and sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery and first-degree murder. Despite being a minor, the sentence required her to serve at least 51 years before being eligible for parole consideration, which would not make her eligible for parole until she was 67.

Jackson, executive producer of the Starz Power Universe series and Black Mafia Family, and his G-Unit Film & Television executive produce with Anthony (Power, The Chi), who has been a long-time supporter of Brown-Long’s and brought the project to G-Unit. Santa Sierra (Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Vida, Narcos), a co-executive producer, is writing the limited series. Brown-Long and her husband Jamie Long will consult on the project.

“We’re honored to be entrusted with Cyntoia’s story, which shines a light on the injustice of a system that tried and sentenced an at-risk minor as an adult when she was a victim herself of sex trafficking,” said Christina Davis, president of original programming for Starz. “This limited series from Curtis, La La and Santa chronicles Cyntoia’s long journey to freedom and furthers our #TakeTheLead programming mandate centered on narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences.”