The untitled scripted comedy is based on Minaj’s life growing up in New York, focusing on her family life and the experiences that influenced her on the road to becoming the megastar she is today. With Minaj having moved to the U.S. from Trinidad and Tobago as a child, we’d expect that to factor into the plot. The pilot episode is set to be filmed in her adopted hometown of Queens, New York, this winter.
“Nicki Minaj is a force to be reckoned with at everything she touches,” said Karey Burke, EVP of programming and development for ABC Family. “Nicki is an international superstar, yet not everyone knows how inspiring and hilarious her true story is, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”
It’s unclear what Minaj’s role will be when she appears on the show, but she definitely won’t be playing her past self. The rapper tweeted out a whole lot of emotion after news broke and shared that they’ll be casting another actress to star as “Young Nicki.”
Who’s going to play #YoungNicki ?!?! aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ABCFamily
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) September 29, 2015
Acting isn’t new to Minaj; she studied it at LaGuardia High School, a prestigious performing arts school in Manhattan and even planned to be an actress before becoming a successful musician. After making herself a household name, she transitioned into acting, first voicing a character in Ice Age: Continental Drift, and then taking on roles in the films The Other Woman and Barbershop 3.
The series will be written by Kate Angelo, whose credits include Will & Grace, The Bernie Mac Show, The Back-Up Plan, and Sex Tape. She will team up with Minaj and Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment to executive produce, along with Stella Bulcohnikov, Brian Sher, and Gee Roberson.
