50 Cent’s YA Novel ‘Playground’ To Be Adapted Into FOX Animated Series

Christina Lee | April 4, 2014 11:05 am

50 Cent confirms that FOX will adapt a YA novel he wrote into an animated TV series. Published in 2012, Playground tells a story about a teenaged bully, Butterball, who eventually learns why his behavior is wrong – as 50 explains, one that has been told in cartoon form before. (Side note: In an interesting twist, Butterball has a love interest and a gay mother.)

“I realized that the animated stars are bullies — like Bart Simpson, Dennis the Menace, and those different things,” the Animal Ambition rap star said to Atlanta’s V103. “So I met with [film producer] Brian Grazer, and Brian Loucks over at CAA, he helped me create the actual meeting and put me with the right people. And I got the show picked up on FOX. So, I got an animated show coming there.”

While 50 Cent only mentioned FOX’s Playground adaptation as an aside, V103 host Ryan Cameron couldn’t help but to point out the irony of the situation. (“I was here when he punched Ja Rule in the face!” he exclaims, gesturing toward a nearby street corner and referring to a beef that started before their heyday.) In response, 50 Cent brings up how he tries to set an example for his son, 17, only to then explain why he’d punch rappers like Ja in the face.

“Our culture is so competitive that they challenge you to move up in notoriety,” 50 said. “And when it’s done, when they don’t have the same consistency – because I’m not going anywhere. How many others artists do you talk to, “walk in as a rapper,” are talking to you about the television shows and film projects that they do? They challenge you in order to get the notoriety.”

Watch 50 Cent talk about Playground and its FOX adaptation below, within the first five minutes.

[via MTV]

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