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Fox has recruited Grammy-winning producer Timbaland to join its hip-hop drama from the writers behind The Butler.
Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley will serve as songwriter and song producer on drama pilot Empire, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Empire, from Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, will feature original and current music. The drama stars Hustle & Flow alums Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson and revolves around a hip-hop empire and the family that runs it.
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Strong, who penned the script for The Butler — which was produced and directed by Daniels — is attached to write Empire alongside Daniels, who will make his TV directing debut with the project. From 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine, Brian Grazer will exec produce alongside Daniels, Strong and Francie Calfo.
Timbaland has created countless No. 1 hits and has collaborated with pop icons including Madonna, Beyonce, Jay Z, Elton John, Justin Timberlake and Keith Urban. In 2013, he produced and co-wrote multiple tracks on four of the year’s biggest multiplatinum albums: Magna Carta Holy Grail, The 20/20 Experience Part I and II, and Beyonce. Timbaland was ranked as Billboard Magazine’s Songwriter of the Decade in 2011.
He’s repped by WME.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
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