Carl Weber's 'The Family Business' Adapted into Eight-Episode TV Series

The Family Business Series Comes To BET

New York Times bestselling author, publisher, and filmmaker Carl Weber is going from the books to the big screen… yet again. Weber’s sought-after crime drama novels, The Family Business, have been adapted into an eight-episode TV series, which is set to exclusively premiere November 13th on BET.

Directed by Trey Haley, the project centers the prestigious Duncan family, their love, lies, and everything else in between. Bred from the fast-city bricks of Jamaica, Queens, by day, they are known as some of the most upstanding people on the block, but their night lives evince something a lot different and a lot more dangerous.

Coming into the age of retirement, the family’s patriarch, LC Duncan–portrayed by Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, OZ)–is at a crossroads, as he must begin to decide which of his children should carry the torch and take over his flourishing car dealership enterprise. But although designating a legacy holder may be weighing heavily on his mind, prominent politicians, mafia mavens, and drug cartels are on his back. Suddenly, the Duncans are forced to stick together or die separately, and it’s up to them to choose.

Initially, The Family Business, scribed by Carl Weber himself, was developed and produced as an indie feature franchise based on the collection of books, but instead of pursuing a theatrical release, the films were acquired by BET and recut into a series, co-produced by Tri Destined Studios, Urban Books Media, and, of course, BET. Future installments are also being talked about.

Nikaya D. Brown Jones (TDS) and Carl Weber (UBM) serve as executive producers and showrunners. Director Trey Haley, Ernie Hudson, and BET’s Connie Orlando and Maureen Guthman are also on the EP team as well.

“Carl Weber’s The Family Business is a gloriously addictive series and a prime example of BET’s on-going commitment to telling compelling dramatic, character-driven original stories, anchored in the Black experience,” said Guthman. “We look forward to our partnership with Tri Destined Studios, Urban Books Media and are thrilled to welcome Carl Weber to the BET family.”

Led by Hudson, other cast members of The Family Business include Valarie Pettiford (Charlotte Duncan), Christian Keyes (Niles Monroe), Clifton Powell (Uncle Lou), Miguel A. Nunez Jr. (Harris Grant), Tami Roman (London Duncan), Malik Yoba (Randy Moss), and Gary Dourdan (Trent Duncan), among others.

BET’s The Family Business will make its debut tonight at 9/8c.

Additionally, Carl Weber and fellow author La Jill Hunt are prepping to drop the fifth TFB novel next year, which is already available for pre-order here.