Not Content With Rapping, Drake Plans a Push Into Film and TV

New documentary, Netflix series and Apple collaboration highlight singer's career expansion.

November 9, 2017 5:00 am
Drake Discusses His Push Into Film and TV
Drake, seen here hosting the 2014 ESPYS, stars alongside his dad in ads for his new whiskey, Virginia Black. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Drake is starting his push into Hollywood, TV, and films, and just made his producer debut with a new documentary The Carter Effect.  The film, about high-flying former NBA star Vince Carter, recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

In addition, the rapper is teaming up with Netflix to revive the critically-acclaimed British crime series Top Boy, reports The Hollywood ReporterDrake, along with Adel “Future” Nur, who also co-produced The Carter Effect, will executive produce the series, which will be released in 2019.

But The Hollywood Reporter writes Drake’s biggest Hollywood push is yet to come. He is partnering with Steve Golin, who runs Anonymous Content (one of the the hottest production houses and home of Spotlight and Mr. Robot), for an untitled film series. He has also partnered with film studio A24. But his most significant collaboration might be with Apple, which has “given him the go-ahead to produce whatever he chooses,” according to Jimmy Iovine via The Hollywood Reporter. 

Though the details of Drake and Future’s partnership with Apple is still unclear, Apple Music’s head of content, Larry Jackson, said he has full confidence in Drake, and think that he will “replicate his music success for the screen, be it as a producer or actor.”

Ultimately, The Hollywood Reporter writes, Drake is happy to shatter people’s expectations and thoughts about how a successful rapper should grow and evolve. “When I get back into acting, I want to do things that make people go, ‘Wow, I didn’t expect that.”

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