The rapper-turned-producer promises the same level of intensity and body count that made Taylor Sheridan’s hit series a cultural phenomenon.
50 Cent believes he has the next big thing for television audiences who loved Yellowstone. The rapper-turned-TV-producer, 51, recently sat down for a PEOPLE in 10 interview and gave his straightforward pitch for his new Starz series Fightland, which premiered on July 31, 2026.
“You like Yellowstone? Someone dies in every episode,” 50 Cent said with a laugh. “That’s what I’d say to you right away ’cause [Yellowstone creator] Taylor Sheridan’s viewership is very hot.”
The music mogul, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, added that the “intensity of the material” elevates the show above a “standard” action film or crime drama. He credited the strategy to the massive popularity of Sheridan, suggesting that viewers drawn to that level of tension would find themselves equally invested in his new series.
The Plot: Revenge in the World of British Boxing
Fightland is set in the underworld of British boxing. The show follows Maduka “Duke” Kilroy, played by Howard Charles, a former heavyweight boxing champion whose life takes a devastating turn.
On the night Duke becomes world heavyweight champion, a vicious assault leaves his brother Calvin dead. Duke is devastated, and his reaction in the aftermath costs him eight years in a U.S. prison. Upon his release, and after making a sinister discovery, Duke returns to London seeking vengeance against the man he believes set him up — the criminal kingpin and his former promoter, Kingsley Marshall, played by Nicholas Pinnock.
But Kingsley has vanished, leaving his children and wife, Joy (Deborah Ayorinde), who happens to be the love of Duke’s life, to pick up the pieces. Working with a cartel desperate to control London’s drug market, Duke begins a high-risk game of infiltrating Kingsley’s empire to destroy it from within and smoke out his enemy.
“Dynamic, bloody and engrossing, the show is an engaging account of revenge, fractured family dynamics and unbridled ego.”
The series is created by Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith, with Peaky Blinders’ Otto Bathurst directing and executive producing the first two episodes.
The Cast: A Stellar Ensemble
The main cast of Fightland brings together talent from both sides of the Atlantic:
- Howard Charles (Top Boy, Whitstable Pearl) as Maduka “Duke” Kilroy
- Nicholas Pinnock as Kingsley Marshall
- Deborah Ayorinde as Joy Marshall
- Charles Babalola as Ezekiel “Zeek” Marshall
- Anita-Joy Uwajeh as Cebella “Cece” Marshall
- Tahirah Sharif (The Tower) as ring card girl Kim Harper
- Tyler Conti (The Gentlemen) as Duke’s best friend Justin “Jay” Hall
- Richard Pepple (The Hack) as Duke’s estranged father Gary “Gazzer” Kilroy
Howard Charles, 42, shared what drew him to the project. “It’s exciting. Look, I’m a big game player, you know, like Ronaldo, like Messi and many others. And this man is a big game player,” he said, referring to 50 Cent. “And yeah, you’re invited to dare to be great, and that’s that kind of company I like to find myself in for sure,” the London-born actor added.
When asked if he had a chance to introduce 50 Cent to his London favorites while filming, Charles joked, “Nah, I was working, I was working. We were deep in it.”
Release Details and Viewing Information
Fightland premiered in the United States on Starz on Friday, July 31, 2026. New episodes are available to stream weekly on Fridays on the Starz app and all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms.
For UK viewers, the series will launch on Sky Atlantic and NOW in August 2026. Sky has confirmed an exact UK release date of August 27, 2026.
The series consists of eight episodes. The release schedule for the remaining episodes is as follows:
- Episode 2: August 7, 2026
- Episode 3: August 14, 2026
- Episode 4: August 21, 2026
- Episode 5: August 28, 2026
- Episode 6: September 4, 2026
- Episode 7: September 11, 2026
- Episode 8: September 18, 2026
This marks 50 Cent’s first internationally produced show through his G-Unit Film & Television banner. It is also Starz’s first wholly owned original following the network’s separation from Lionsgate.
Early Success and Critical Reception
Fightland has already made an impact on streaming charts. According to FlixPatrol, the series is currently the No. 2 most-watched show on Starz in the United States. It is also a hit in Canada, holding the No. 7 spot.
The series has received positive reviews from critics, currently holding a 78% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Joel Keller from Decider wrote, “While there’s a lot of violence and melodrama in Fightland, there’s more than enough going on underneath the surface to keep viewers engaged with Duke’s plot to get back at the Marshalls for everything they put him through.”
Aramide Tinubu from Variety praised the show, saying it is “Dynamic, bloody and engrossing.”
George Bate from ScreenRant noted, “There is undeniable entertainment value that comes from a show unburdened by pretension and streamlined by a straightforward revenge story.”
On IMDb, the boxing crime drama holds a 6.0 rating with over 100 reviews.
Behind the Scenes: Filming Locations
Authenticity was a priority for the production team. Some of the filming locations include:
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London
- Peacock Gym in Canning Town
- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
- Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham
50 Cent’s Vision for the Show
Speaking about Fightland in an interview with CNN, 50 Cent shared his thoughts on why boxing stories continue to resonate with audiences.
“It’s the only sport that you can’t pass anyone the ball,” he said, noting that boxing “goes all the way back to Rome” and that boxers are the “modern-day version” of gladiators.
Howard Charles echoed this sentiment in his own interview with CNN, revealing the significance of boxing in storytelling. He noted that “fight films” along with “fight stories” are a “metaphor” for “our own struggle”. He added that people are able to “relate” to “boxing” as there is the aspect of “fighting for something.”
50 Cent also reflected on what motivates his success after decades in the entertainment industry. “I’m not that good at writing music — I got good. I worked at it until I got good enough,” he said. “What separates people is their passion.”
The rapper is anticipating this show to gain “more” success than “anything” that he has “done before.” With the presence of “boxing’s raw stakes” as seen in the first episode, 50 Cent said it will “take it to another level.”
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What Makes ‘Fightland’ Different
Beyond the comparison to Yellowstone, 50 Cent emphasized that the emotional weight of the storylines in Fightland helps the show stand apart from more conventional action dramas or crime series, giving it a heightened sense of stakes throughout its episodes.
The series blends the high-stakes world of professional boxing with organized crime, family betrayal, and a quest for redemption. Set against the backdrop of London’s criminal underworld, Fightland offers viewers a fresh take on the revenge drama genre.
With its weekly release schedule and strong early reviews, Fightland is positioning itself as one of the standout crime dramas of 2026. Whether it lives up to the Yellowstone comparison remains to be seen, but 50 Cent’s track record with Power and its spin-offs suggests he knows how to keep audiences engaged.
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Fightland airs Fridays on Starz in the U.S. and arrives on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK on August 27, 2026. For more entertainment news and updates on the latest TV series, stay tuned to VvipTimes for comprehensive coverage of everything happening in the world of streaming and television.
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