The long-rumored Drumline sequel is a go at VH1. The network has given the green light to Drumline: A New Beat (tentative title), its next original movie to follow the very successful TLC biopic. Nick Cannon, who played the lead in the 2002 Drumline feature in a star-making turn, will be back, reprising his role as well as executive producing alongside the Fox 2000 film’s producers Wendy Finerman, Jody Gerson and Dallas Austin. Regina Hicks and Karin Gist are writing the script, with filming slated to begin in the spring for a fall 2014 premiere. VH1 is producing with Fox TV Studios, whose parent company owns the rights to the movie. “Drumline has become one of those beloved cornerstone films for a generation, always generating high ratings when we air it on VH1,” said the network’s EVP Susan Levison.
Drumline: A New Beat is not a traditional sequel as it focuses on a new set of characters at a fictional New Orleans university. The story follows Danielle (Dani) Bolton, an upper-class Brooklyn girl who defies her parents in order to attend a college in Louisiana so she can join – and revitalize – their once-prominent drumline. Dani’s quest to 
become the first female section leader of the drumline in the school’s history will be hampered by upperclassmen (including her cousin, Tyree); her feelings for fellow band mate and rival, Jayven; and the school’s crosstown rivals. “Drumline was not just a successful film; it was a cultural happening,” Cannon said. “Even though it was released over a decade ago, I am constantly approached by people on the street who tell me how much of an impact it made on them. As a producer, my thought was, ‘How do we create an updated version that would translate to today’s audience and still feel fresh and original?’ Adding a female lead character really makes sense, and VH1 is the perfect network to partner with on this modernized take on what is considered a unique and classic film experience.”
Drumline: A New Beat is looking to build on the success of VH1’s CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which drew 4.5 million total viewers in October and became the highest-rated cable movie of 2013 in adults 18-49 (2.9 rating). The network also has been getting traction with its original series: Hit The Floor, the highest-rated summer freshman series in 18-49, and Single Ladies.
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smart to reprise the best movie he ever died. also, one of the worst movies i’ve ever seen.
Is Orlando Jones gonna be in this project?
VH1’s programming model now reminds me of the original FOX network and later UPN which skewed a majority of their themes to black/urban oriented shows that served an overlooked audience by the traditional networks. The strategy must be working (once again) as VH1’s ratings were in the dump not all that long ago and this change in strategy appears to be resuscitating their fortune. So the question begs, “Will VH1 follow the same course of action as FOX and UPN (now CW) as they both eventually jettisoned their loyal ‘urban’ audiences and went more mainstream once they got on their feet?”. In the interim, I’m hoping that Susan Levison and her team are taking this opportunity to bring more people of color into the VH1 fold BEHIND-THE-SCENES as executives, as I had a pitch meeting at their Viacom offices in Santa Monica last year and aside from an occasional female ‘assistant’ it was disappointing to see the death of minorities particularly at a network that is now depending on that audience to get ‘back in the black’ so to speak and in the good graces of Redstone et al !
I meant DEARTH of minorities. Sorry.
Drumline was good movie, and it deserved an actual sequel many years ago. Now, well, maybe they should reboot it and make it for theaters.
Really unsure why this great movie wants to have another go at it now. It’s so long overdue so you might as well leave it alone. Plus, it’s common knowledge that sequels rarely live up to expectations so they may want to stop while they are ahead.