Actor Terrance Howard will flex more than just his acting chops within the next couple of months. He has partnered with Radical Media to develop a TV drama entitled Pigs and Panthers. The show, set in the 1960s and early ’70s, will be based on the life of undercover LAPD detective Ronald Farwell, who infiltrated the Black Panthers. According to Variety, the project draws from the story of Farwell and his wife, an L.A. Sheriff’s deputy, as he soon finds himself on the wrong side of the Black Panther Party, the FBI and the LAPD itself.

Howard is producing the project with his production company, A Huge Quality Film. Writer Ron Hutchinson (The Tuskegee Airmen) is penning the pilot.

I sometimes think I was a Black Panther in a past life, but since I’m not old enough to have been there, I welcome a historical drama like this into my TV repertoire. It’s an interesting story to tell and I’m curious to see how it unfolds.

I never pegged Terrence Howard for anything more than a performer. Granted, he showed versatility as Deejay in Hustle & Flow, but stepping into the producer role definitely isn’t child’s play, so he gets much respect. Black Hollywood needs more people behind the camera in order to accurately reflect the culture and diversify the face(s) of the TV/film world. Good job Mr. Howard!

There’s no word on when it will air, but I’ll be on watch. Hopefully everything works out.

TAGS: Black Panther Party, Terrence Howard

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