A&E NETWORK DEVELOPING NEW SHOWCASE SERIES "50 CENT PRESENTS" (working title)

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 17, 2016 - A&E Network is in development on a new sketch comedy, music and showcase series "50 Cent Presents" (working title) developed by, starring and executive produced by renowned rapper, actor, entrepreneur Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. The announcement was made today by Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming at A&E Network.

Jackson is best known as an award-winning rapper, actor, entrepreneur and executive producer of hit television shows, but now he's focusing his skills on curating the best comedic, musical and performance acts that he can find for a variety series unlike any other. Whether he's breaking new talent, giving his A-list friends a chance to show off their lesser known skills or just dropping in on some of the most original acts on earth, Jackson will set the stage for the most freewheeling, no-holds-barred performances to air on modern television.

The series will combine sketches, standup, reality experiments, music, magic, dance and celebrity guest appearances. Jackson will also serve as host, giving viewers cutting-edge content within an innovative take on the variety format.

"I grew up watching variety shows and am excited to put my own spin on the format. I hope everyone is ready to bring their talent forward, I want to show the world the best of the best," says Jackson.

"Leaning into A&E's legacy in showcasing the arts, we're setting out to redefine the traditional variety show," said Frontain Bryant. "50 Cent is the perfect partner to refresh this classic format. He is a true tastemaker across industries and we are excited to see his impressive showcase of talent."

'50 Cent Presents' (w.t.) is produced by Back Roads Entertainment for A&E Network. Executive producers at G-Unit Film & Television, Inc. are Curtis J. Jackson and Stephen J. Savva. Executive producer at Back Roads Entertainment is Colby Gaines. Executive producers at A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant, Brad Holcman and Sean Gottlieb.

Jackson is represented by Marc Kamler at APA and attorney Eric Feig. Back Roads Entertainment is also represented by APA.

About Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and G-Unit Film & Television, Inc.

Born Curtis James Jackson III, Jackson ("50 Cent") is an American rapper, entrepreneur, executive producer and actor from Queens, New York. He rose to fame with the release of his 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin', which has sold more than 8 million copies. The GRAMMY Award(R) winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and has been awarded numerous accolades including: Thirteen (13) Billboard Music Awards, Six (6) World Music Awards, Three (3) American Music Awards and Four (4) BET Awards, to name a few. Billboard Magazine ranked Jackson as the No. 1 rap artist and most successful Hot 100 Artist of the 2000s, as well as that decade's sixth-best artist and fourth top male artist Jackson has also carved out a successful and acclaimed career as an actor and executive producer. Most recently, he starred in "Spy" with Melissa McCarthy and Jude Law and "Southpaw" with Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker and Rachel McAdams, directed by Antoine Fuqua.

In 2005, Jackson founded his full-service production company, G-Unit Film & Television, Inc., which presently has an overall premium deal with Starz network and produces the top-rated series "Power" which also stars Jackson and returns for its third season in summer 2016. G-Unit Film & Television also recently sold a scripted comedy entitled "My Friend 50" to Universal Television, it has an unscripted project in development with Bunim Murray Productions at a network to be announced soon and two other scripted projects that will be announced by 4Q 2016. G-Unit Film & Television continues to cultivate a stable of diverse writers, actors and performance artists to work on and in a wide variety of scripted and unscripted content being developed across various entertainment platforms.

About A&E Network

Now reaching more than 96 million homes, A&E is the home to quality original content that inspires and challenges audiences to BE ORIGINAL. A&E offers a diverse mix of uniquely immersive entertainment ranging from the network's original scripted series, including "Bates Motel" and "Damien" to signature non-fiction franchises, including "Duck Dynasty," "Wahlburgers" and "Storage Wars." The A&E website is located at aetv.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.