Starz has greenlit an untitled drama set in the world of black rodeo in Texas as the network, led by CEO Jeffrey Hirsch, looks to own more of its content pipeline after splitting from Lionsgate.
The family series, to be showrun by Kirk A. Moore (Demascus, American Crime), also comes as the premium cable and streaming outlet continues to target women and underrepresented audiences.
“Infused with hip hop swagger and country soul, the series unfolds in southeast Texas, where rodeo isn’t just what you do — it’s who you are,” a synopsis from the producers reads. “At the center are three siblings bound by the legacy their mother built and the unfinished business their father left behind. Driven by their own ambitions and drawn into each other’s orbit, alliances shift, relationships tangle and nothing stays private for long.”
Starz earlier ordered Fightland, a drama set in the world of British boxing, from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, as its first scripted series order as a standalone company. Without a studio partner, Starz is looking to develop and produce more IP that it owns.
Alongside series like P-Valley, the untitled Texas rodeo drama also adds to a Starz slate of premium dramas rooted in Black Southern culture. “Messy family dynamics, jaw-dropping spectacle and an undeniable swagger — this is the kind of bold, original storytelling we’re proud to own from the ground up,” Kathryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz, said in a statement.
Moore will also executive produce the series, consisting of eight one-hour episodes, alongside Mark Johnson, Myki Bajaj, Tony Hernandez, Elise Henderson and Lilly Burns. Giovanna Desselle, vp of original programming, and Christina Jokanovich, senior vp of original programming, will oversee the series for Starz.
Moore is represented by CAA and manager Scott Carr.
