The first piece of original programming to come out of Apple may star none other than the company’s own employee: Andre Young, aka, Dr. Dre.
The hip-hop mogul turned Beats co-founder is reportedly starring and executive producing the first-ever scripted TV series bankrolled by Apple, but it’s still unclear how Dre’s production will be distributed.
Apple’s first TV show will see Dr. Dre playing a semi-autobiographical role, according to sources who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter. The series will be called ‘Vital Signs’ and will feature six episodes that are about 30 minutes in length.
Apple has long been rumored to be exploring a jump into creating its own original content. Some of the company’s top executives visited with Hollywood brass last summer, but it still doesn’t have its own development team or studio.
Each episode in the series supposedly focuses on a different emotion Dre had to deal with growing up. Other cast members in the series include Sam Rockwell and Mo McRae. ‘Vital Signs’ won’t hold back any punches to play toward a wider audience. The report claims that an episode that was filming earlier this week featured an extended orgy scene.
Dr. Dre’s jump to TV may seem an odd fit at Apple, but the hip-hop mogul had major success last year with the movie Straight Outta Compton which he co-produced with Ice Cube. ‘Vital Signs’ will likely debut on Apple Music, but it’s unknown if Apple TV and iTunes will also carry the Dre-produced series.
