Sept. 17 (UPI) — Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson says he had to persuade Eminem to take a role on his new TV series.
The 46-year-old rapper, actor and producer discussed Eminem, 48, and his Starz series Black Mafia Family, aka BMF, during Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jackson told Jimmy Kimmel Live! host Jimmy Kimmel that he convinced Eminem to join the upcoming drama series.
“I persuaded him to come,” Jackson said. “I actually directed the episode that he’s in. I called him, I put pressure on him, Jimmy.”
Jackson suggested that Eminem was turned off of acting after starring in the critically-acclaimed 2002 film 8 Mile.
“I think he had a terrible experience on the 8 Mile project, ’cause he just didn’t want to go back again, like ever again,” Jackson said.
“It was like, there was periods that Hollywood would offer me things to get him. Like, his agent would go, ‘Yeah, this is good. Give it to 50 and then let 50 take it to him,'” he shared.
Jackson said Eminem turned down projects, including one that would have paid him $8 million. He said Eminem instead suggested a remake of the 1979 film Warriors.
BMF is executive produced by Jackson and stars Demetrius Flenory Jr. and Da’Vinchi as Charles and Terry Flenory, two real-life brothers who headed an influential crime family in 1980s Detroit.
The new series co-stars Russell Hornsby and Steve Harris and will feature guest appearances by Eminem, Snoop Dogg and La La Anthony.
Starz shared a first teaser for BMF in July. The series premieres Sept. 26.