Snoop Dogg Heading to HBO With Original Drama Series

Snoop Dogg Heading to HBO With Original Drama Series:

Snoop Dogg may have caught the drama bug following his appearance on Empire's explosive season finale. The veteran rapper has partnered with HBO to develop a family drama for the network.

According to a statement, the as-yet-untitled show will be set in the Eighties and center around a Los Angeles family "whose seemingly idyllic life is turned upside down by the collision of their community and American politics." Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, The Book of Eli) has been tapped to direct and executive produce the series. Rodney Barnes (The Boondocks, Everybody Hates Chris) has signed on as a writer.

For now, Snoop is only executive producing this HBO venture alongside his longtime manager Ted Chung. There's no word if he is directing or providing new music for his show. On Wednesday, the rapper appeared as himself on Fox's breakout hit Empire, performing his Pharrell-produced single "Peaches N Cream" before debuting its psychedelic video later that night. On Friday, he gave the keynote address at SXSW in Austin, TX.

HBO seems to be the right fit for a Snoop-produced show, given his love for the network's popular series Game of Thrones. In time for the show's fifth season, set to premiere on April 12th, he appeared on Catch the Throne: The Mixtape 2 with the song "Lannister's Anthem." Last year, he filmed a stoned recap of the show with Seth Rogen for his GGN web series. "It's like the rap game, it's gangster, about family, loyalty and trying to get the top," said Snoop in a statement about Game of Thrones. "I had to get involved. Give the fans a little bit of how I see it."

A premiere date for Snoop's show has yet to be set.

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