Baz Luhrmann Teams with Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis for Hip-Hop TV Drama

Vulture reports that Baz Luhrmann will make his first foray into television with the help of playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis (The Motherf**ker with the Hat) and producer Shawn Ryan (The Shield).

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The project is a period drama about the start of the hip-hop scene in New York. Set in 1977, the series will follow five New Yorkers with a focus on two best friends - a writer and a performer. More than a journey through the birth of hip-hop, the show is also set to address NYC's high crime rates and financial woes during the time period.

The idea has been pitched at Netflix, Amazon and FX, with meetings set up at Showtime and other cable networks. Guirgis is set to write the pilot, and all three men will produce.

Luhrmann most recently helmed The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and for which he collaborated with Jay Z. Luhrmann's past credits include Australia, Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom.

Guirgis' playwriting credits include The Motherf**ker With the Hat, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Our Lady of 121st Street, The Little Flower of East Orange, Jesus Hopped the A Train and more. He has written for the TV series Big Apple, UC: Undercover and NYPD Blue.

Ryan has produced the TV series Last Resort, The Chicago Code, Terriers, Lie to Me, The Unit, The Shield, Angel and Nash Bridges.