The show will star Academy Award® winner Common (John Wick 2, Suicide Squad, Selma), who will also executive produce under his Freedom Road Productions banner. Wu-Tang Clan's RZA (Kill Bill 1 & 2, American Gangster, "Gang Related") and Mitchell Diggs will also executive produce for Wu Films.
"Black Samurai" will be based on the Black Samurai novels written by Marc Olden, the series will follow the character of Robert Sand (Common), a highly-trained American Army Ranger whose life is transformed when he meets a legendary Japanese master who invites him to train as a samurai. After his beloved sensei and samurai brothers are killed by mercenaries, Sand is thrust on a worldwide journey of both revenge and self-discovery.
Carmi Zlotnik, president of programming for Starz, said, "We cannot wait for the world to meet Robert Sand - part Jason Bourne, part James Bond, and 100% the hero we need today. ‘Black Samurai' promises to be an action-packed ride and with the Bruckheimer team, Common, RZA and Andre at the helm, we can feel certain this will be exceptional storytelling."
"I'm beyond excited about ‘Black Samurai.' This is a unique and special project that offers something rarely seen in art and culture today," said Common. "It's an honor to play the character of Robert Sand and to have my production company, Freedom Road Productions partnering with Jerry Bruckheimer Productions, RZA and Starz to deliver something fresh and new to people. I can't wait to dig into this character and the martial arts worlds of gun-fu, kung-fu, jujitsu and more. Look out world, ‘Black Samurai' is coming!"
Bruckheimer will be executive producing along with Jonathan Littman ("The Amazing Race," "Lucifer," "CSI"); KristieAnne Reed ("Lucifer"); Freedom Road's Derek Dudley (The Chi, Meet the Blacks, America Divided, Two Trains Runnin') and Shelby Stone (The Chi, Lackawanna Blues, Bessie, "Single Ladies"); Diane Crafford; and Andre Gaines of Cinemation (Brazilian Western, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, Bill Nye: Science Guy). James Oh of Jerry Bruckheimer Television will produce.
Marianne Wibberley and Cormac will be writing the script.
