Showtime To Produce Doc On Suge Knight

SHOWTIME, an established leader in outstanding original programming, continues to expand its aggressive push into high-end, filmmaker-driven documentaries with a captivating new doc SUGE KNIGHT (tentative title), directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Brooklyn's Finest) and produced by Bradley J. Fischer (BLACK SWAN, Shutter Island, Zodiac) and Fuqua. The feature-length film will be the first in a series of new documentaries produced by SHOWTIME that will spotlight iconic and controversial figures from talented and prestigious filmmakers. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.

Famed director Fuqua will delve deep into the life and storied exploits of the Death Row Records co-founder as well as the volatile and highly influential era in music that he presided over. With privileged access to those who were with Knight from the very beginning - who loved, respected, feared and were inspired by him - we'll be guided through this world by the man himself. He will personally reveal exactly how it all happened, why it all fell apart, and what the next chapter holds for one of America's most iconic and mythologized figures.

Fischer and Fuqua produce, with David Prior, Laeta Kalogridis, James Vanderbilt, Lisa Remington and Edward McGurn as executive producers. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chuck Philips is co-producer.

"Suge Knight's reputation and rise to power in the music business has become the stuff of legend, and he remains one of the entertainment industry's most provocative and enduring myths," said Fischer. "But while his name elicits an immediate and powerful reaction from people around the world, very few can legitimately claim to know the man. Antoine Fuqua and I are thrilled to be partnering with SHOWTIME to tell this remarkable story and take audiences behind a curtain that most have been terrified to even approach."

The documentary also marks Suge Knight's return to the music business. Through his new company Black Kapital, Knight will spearhead the film's soundtrack, which will feature new tracks from some of the biggest names in music, while also providing an opportunity for artists who are just launching their careers.

The new SHOWTIME programming slate comes on the heels of this month's highly-anticipated premiere of the The Love We Make featuring Paul McCartney and directed by iconic filmmaker AlBert Maysles and his award-winning filmmaking partner Bradley Kaplan. Additionally, the network will premiere From The Sky Down, on Saturday, October 29th at 8pm, Davis Guggenheim's latest feature documentary chronicling the 20th anniversary of U2's chart topping tour-de-force Achtung Baby. Both films recently premiered at this year's Toronto Film Festival.