BET Networks Licenses "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Crime Drama for Eight Jaw-Dropping Installments Starting Tuesday, November 13 at 9 PM ET/PT

The Family Business is based on The New York Times bestselling author Carl Weber's novels

Ernie Hudson, Valarie Pettiford, Armand Assante, Emilio Rivera, Darrin Henson, Javicia Leslie, Clifton Powell. Miguel A. Nunez Jr., Tami Roman, Sean Ringgold, Christian Keyes, Nick Turturro, KJ Smith, Malik Yoba, Gary Dourdan, Lisa Ray and More to Star in Carl Weber's First-Ever Book to Television Franchise

Produced by Tri Destined Studios and Urban Books Media

LOS ANGELES -- Today, BET Networks announces the acquisition of eight-part drama "Carl Weber's The Family Business," based on The New York Times best-selling author's most popular family crime drama novel starring acclaimed-actor and Executive Produccer Ernie Hudson. Originally developed and produced as an indie film franchise, BET has licensed the content to air this dynamic production in an explosive way. Meet the Duncans, a prominent family from Jamaica, Queens living fast and luxurious. By day, they're an upstanding family; by night, they live a dangerous secret life. The patriarch of the family, L.C. Duncan (Hudson), is at the age when he's starting to think about retirement and has to decide which of his children should take over his thriving exotic car dealership. The Duncans quickly come under siege from some of the top politicians, mafia and drug cartels in the city. The Duncans will have to stick together or die separately. The highly anticipated television event "Carl Weber's The Family Business," makes its debut on Tuesday, November 13 at 9 PM ET/PT on BET.

In the premiere titled "We Are At War," L.C. Duncan (Ernie Hudson) has decided it's finally time to pass on the mantle of leadership. All this during a time when their Asian supplier has cut them off, and their rivals are threatening to put them out of business. Watch the extended series trailer here: https://youtu.be/adzFs56sJ-o

"Carl Weber's The Family Business," star-studded cast, led by Ernie Hudson (L.C. Duncan), includes Valarie Pettiford (Charlotte Duncan), Armand Assante (Sal Dash), Emilio Rivera (Alejandro Zuniga), Darrin Henson (Orlando Duncan), Javicia Leslie (Paris Duncan), Clifton Powell (Uncle Lou), Miguel A. Nunez Jr. (Harris Grant), Tami Roman (London Duncan), Sean Ringgold (Junior Duncan), Christian Keyes (Niles Monroe), Nick Turturro (Ronald Sims), KJ Smith (Sasha Duncan), Malik Yoba (Randy Moss), Gary Dourdan (Trent Duncan), Lisa Ray (Donna Duncan), Frankie G (Juan Rodriguez), and Arrington Foster (Rio Duncan), and introduces Amani E. Boyd (Mariah Duncan) and Dylan Weber (Nevada Duncan) as the next generation of the Duncan clan.

"Carl Weber's The Family Business," is executive produced by Nikaya D. Brown Jones for Tri Destined Studios and Carl Weber for Urban Books Media who also serve as the showrunners. Weber singlehandedly penned all of the content. Additionally, Ernie Hudson, and BET's Connie Orlando and Maureen Guthman serve as Executive Producers. Trey Haley (The Man in 3B, The Preacher's Son) to serve as director and co-executive producer for Tri Destined Studios.

Weber's The Family Business novel, published in 2012, is the first in a series of novels under the same title. In fact, this first title launched eight books in what has been a popular and ongoing series about the travails of the Duncan family. The book series has sold over 3 million copies.

"We at Urban Books are excited about our new venture with BET Networks and Tri Destined Studios. We look forward to years of making great film and television productions together." ~Carl Weber, President, Urban Books Media

"We are so grateful to bring Carl Weber's acclaimed literary works to our BET Family and to empower this level of esteemed diverse talent in front and behind the camera." ~Nikaya D. Brown Jones, CEO, Tri Destined Studios

"Carl Weber's The Family Business is gloriously addictive and a prime example of BET's on-going commitment to tell compelling dramatic, character-driven original stories, anchored in the Black experience. We look forward to our partnership with Tri Destined Studios, Urban Books Media and are thrilled to welcome Carl Weber to the BET family" ~Maureen Guthman, SVP of Content Strategy, BET Networks.

Hudson is repped by Michael McConnell of Zero Gravity Management and APA.

For more information on "Carl Weber's The Family Business," visit the official page at BET.com. Also, join the conversation on all social platforms by using hashtag #TheFamilyBusinessBET.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

About Tri Destined Studios

Tri Destined Studios creates content to empower, entertain, and inspire urban and modern America. Recent projects include Throwback Holiday, The Man in 3B, 48 Hours to Live, The Preacher's Son & The Choir Director Tri Destined execs include CEO/ Partner Nikaya D. Brown Jones , President/Partner Trey Haley, President of Film Gregory Anderson, VP of Production and Development Veronica Nichols and Executive Producer Abe Brown.

About Urban Books Media

Urban Books Media is the Film and Television arm of Urban Books, the Largest African American owned publisher in the country. Urban Books executives include CEO Carl Weber, Jeffrey Dumpson and Walter Nixon. Their mission is to bring Popular African American Novels to film and television.

About Carl Weber

Carl Weber is the New York Times bestselling author of titles such as The Preacher's Son, So You Call Yourself a Man, Something on the Side, Up to No Good, Big Girls Do Cry, Torn Between Two Lovers, and She Ain't the One. He is the Publisher and Editorial Director of Urban Books CEO of Urban Books Media, which is currently producing films based on several of his bestselling novels.