Nicki has arrived. Today, ABC Family announced the cast for their upcoming comedy Nicki.
The series is based on the early years of singer and rapper Nicki Minaj.
Ariana Neal, who has previously starred in the film Fruitvale Station, will play a young Minaj in addition to Selita Ebanks as her mother, Wesley Jonathan as her father, and McCarrie McCausland as her older brother. Whoopi Goldberg will play Nicki’s neighbor, Miss Martha.
The series will follow a young Nicki as her family relocates from Trinidad to Queens in the 1990s. The half-hour comedy begins production in early 2016. Think Like a Man’s Tim Story is set to direct.
Read the official announcement below:
Burbank, CA (December 18, 2015) – Today ABC Family confirmed cast for the scripted comedy “Nicki.” Ariana Neal (“Get Hard,” “Fruitvale Station”) will play Nicki, a role inspired by Nicki Minaj in her early years before she became a Grammy Award-nominated, multiplatinum superstar; Selita Ebanks (“Real Husbands of Hollywood”) will play the role of Grace, Nicki’s mom; Wesley Jonathan (“The Soul Man”) will play Vincent, Nicki and Jaylen’s father; and McCarrie McCausland (“Army Wives,” “The Originals”) is cast as Jaylen, Nicki’s older brother. Whoopi Goldberg will guest star as Nicki’s neighbor, Miss Martha. Minaj is executive producer and will also appear in the show. ABC Family is becoming Freeform on January 12, 2016.
The single-camera comedy is inspired by the story of Minaj and her family’s immigration from Trinidad in the early 1990s, her growing up in Queens, New York with her vibrant family, and the personal and musical evolution that lead to her eventual rise to stardom. In October, ABC Family announced a series commitment for the half-hour comedy. “Nicki” will shoot in Queens this winter with director Tim Story (“Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man”).
Kate Angelo (“Sex Tape,” “Will and Grace,” “Bernie Mac”) penned the pilot and will write and executive-produce the series. Minaj, Aaron Kaplan (“Life in Pieces,” “Kevin From Work”), Stella Bulochnikov and Brian Sher (“Boss”), and Gee Roberson will also serve as executive producers.”
What do you think? Are you a Nicki Minaj fan? Would you watch a sitcom based on her life?
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