In what can only be described as a meeting of titans, Jay Z just signed a two-year overall TV and film deal with The Weinstein Company. According to The Wrap, that gives the company first-look options with the rapper for both scripted and unscripted film and TV projects. And Jay Z is no stranger to that world. He’s previously served as a producer on quite a few films, including the Jamie Foxx remake of Annie, Chris Rock’s Top Five, and Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby.
Jay Z and the Weinsteins reportedly already have some projects lined up, although nothing has officially been announced yet. However, Jay Z released a statement explaining he’s “already passionate” about what’s in the pipeline and “looking forward” to more projects as well. He also rather poetically added that he’s “excited to tell stories from real life prophets, whom through their struggles have changed the world for the better.” Plus he’s interested in stories that are “filled with fantasy and delight.” Whether that means a Jay Z-produced remake of The Chronicles Of Narnia is on its way is anyone’s guess.
In his own statement, Harvey Weinstein humble-bragged about knowing Jay Z “on a personal level for many years” and praised him for approaching his career “with both determination and effortlessness.” Though that kind of sounds like a contradiction, perhaps it simply reflects the sort of complexity we can expect from the Jay Z-Weinstein partnership.