With his next crime drama, executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has taken the action across the Atlantic with Fightland, dropping this week on Starz. Set in London, the city is more than a backdrop; it’s a vibe.
It only felt right to hop a flight to Heathrow and meet the cast on their home turf, where they broke down their layered characters and gave us the rundown on the city’s gems every visitor should experience.
Howard Charles stars as Duke, a world-class boxer whose life unravels the same night he reaches the pinnacle of his career. Stripped of his family, freedom and future, Duke returns home nearly a decade later to settle the score.
“He loses everything that he loves and cares about,” Charles said. “After eight years in prison, he’s determined to return home and annihilate the man responsible.”
Duke’s story isn’t simply one of vengeance. “I think we can all relate to various forms of pain, feeling like parts of your life have been taken from you and wanting to fight for what’s right,” he explained. “At the center of Duke isn’t necessarily rage or revenge. It’s love and what happens when that love is taken away.”
Charles’ London Vibe
When the cameras stop rolling, Charles is still drawn to places built around discipline. He spends his free time on the jiu-jitsu mats at a local club. London has its culture of gyms, jiu-jitsu academies and other fitness spaces, available for children and adults alike.
In his second 50 Cent production, For Life alum Nicholas Pinnock’s Kingsley Marshall is definitely not seeking justice.
“Kingsley’s a really complex character in the same way that Aaron Wallace was, but they’re on very different sides of the law,” Pinnock shared.
“I’ve never worked with a character like this, so finding elements within myself that can identify with him, I really had to dig deep because I had to separate myself from who I am as a person and really go to who he is: the ego, the arrogance, the lack of fear in anything that he does. It’s the way that he will do absolutely anything to gain the power that he needs to advance himself. It’s a whole different world.”
Simply put?
“He’s deplorable as a human being, and [audiences] will love to hate him. I grew to love to hate him.”
Pinnock’s London Vibe
The actor has your itinerary totally mapped out. “Go to all of the museums because we have some of the most iconic in the world. We have the most amount of green spaces in Europe, so I would definitely go and see the parks, but don’t confine yourself to the ones in the center,” he advised.
“Go and spend days in the park, even if it’s a terrible day. Get out of the center and explore other diverse parts of London. There’s a place in London called Shepherd’s Bush, Harrow Road; you have something like a hundred-plus languages spoken from the top to the bottom of that street, bringing all these cultures together and everyone living harmoniously. I think people don’t realize how multicultural London is, and that’s just wonderful.”
Deborah Ayorinde stars as Joy, a woman trying to figure out who she is beyond everyone else’s expectations.
“She’s living in a life that’s quite subdued, restricted and very curated,” she explained. “We go on her journey of breaking out of that and becoming her own person.”
For fans of 50 Cent’s Power franchise, Ayorinde believes Fightland has just as much to offer.
“I feel very blessed that [those fans] are already rooting for us. Fightland is so interesting because it’s so unique, and I think it will be a story of its own. It’s for sports fans, it’s a family story, and there’s so much going on.”
Ayorinde’s London Vibe
“I am always up for live music. I love all the jazz spots in London, and I need to find a speakeasy,” she revealed.
Along with London’s food scene—including favorites like Borough Market, the city’s premier food market—Ayinde is also all about her spa time. A place like S.Spa London, a Black-owned wellness destination in Streatham Hill, is perfect to recharge with a massage, facial or a little self-care.
Fightland premieres July 31 on Starz.