Fightland: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes of 50 Cent's New Crime Drama

2 weeks ago 15

Published Aug 8, 2026, 2:15 PM EDT

Michael Zimmermann is a video host and interviewer at Collider. In addition to his work on Collider's Behind the Scenes video channel, Michael covers junkets, red carpets and premieres. He also contributes to the music vertical, writing features and lists. As a Jersey Shore local, Michael's hero is Bruce Springsteen — and you can't convince him that Born To Run is a better album than Darkness on the Edge of Town.

Fightland is a heavyweight bout between underground crime and boxing in the ring of London. The Starz series, executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and created by Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan, Raphael Jackson Jr., Damione Macedon and Marlon Smith, tells the story of revenge, love, and family. Spanning across the gritty streets of London and into the glamorous world of organized crime, Fightland is filmed in real UK locations that bring authenticity to the screen.

In this episode of Collider Access, we take you from boxing rings and alleyways to mansions and jail cells with Howard Charles (Duke Kilroy), Nicholas Pinnock (Kingsley Marshall), Deborah Ayorinde (Joy Marshall), Tahriah Sharif (Kim Harper) and Tyler Conti (Jay Hall). The cast reveal details about the making of the series that the audience might have missed, like costume choices, boxing choreography, scene blocking, and meeting Grammy Award winner 50 Cent on set.

The Best ‘Fightland’ Sets and Locations

“I didn’t realize how fancy this show got.”

The two worlds of Fightland are best seen in the contrast between Kilroy’s Gym and Marshall’s Gym. Kilroy’s offers the old-school, authentic feel of the British working class, whereas Marshall’s highlights the high-end, money-making side of professional boxing. Kilroy’s is filmed at a real London boxing gym called Peacock Gym, while Marshall’s was a set built from scratch with multiple rings.

Kingsley’s mansion is also a real location — a house located in Surrey, England, that was rented out for filming. Unlike a built set where walls can be moved, shooting in a real home offers new challenges that the cast and crew had to navigate around. The cast describes how working within the limitations of an existing set can actually bring out the most in their performances and helps them channel their characters.

50 Cent Arrives on the Set of 'Fightland'

“It was the best day of my life.”

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is, of course, known for his music career, but has also made a name for himself in film and television, executive producing and starring in the Power franchise. When he arrived on the set of Fightland, the cast and crew were appreciative and amazed. Tyler Conti called it “the best day of my life”; Howard Charles recalls that Jackson didn’t impose himself and allowed the actors to stay in their pockets; and Deborah Ayorinde said that his presence really brought up morale after working so hard up to that point.

Watch Fightland streaming now on Starz.