Hollywood’s Taraji P. Henson has joined the cast of Peacock’s limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist in the series regular role of Vivian Thomas, a savvy businesswoman and Chicken Man’s (Kevin Hart) mistress.

 

Henson reunites with previously announced cast members Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, and Dexter Darden. The role also reunites Henson, Howard, and Craig Brewer, who is executive producing and directing. The three previously worked together on projects like the Oscar-winning film ‘Hustle & Flow’ as well as the hit Fox music industry drama ‘Empire.’

 

The series is based on the podcast ‘Fight Night,’ produced by Will Packer along with iHeartPodcasts and Doghouse Pictures. Set in Atlanta in 1970, the official description states that it will tell ‘the infamous story of how an armed robbery during the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight changed not only one man’s life but an entire city’s destiny.’

Kevin Hart stars as Chicken Man, described as ‘a hustler trying to level up,’ while Henson portrays Vivian Thomas, Chicken Man’s mistress and a savvy businesswoman.

 

In addition to her acclaimed work in “Hustle & Flow” and “Empire,” Henson received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for the film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” She won a Golden Globe for her time on “Empire,” and received two out of her four Emmy nominations to date for her work on the show. She was also nominated for best lead actress in a miniseries or movie for “Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story” and for best guest actress in a comedy for her appearance on “Abbott Elementary.”

 

Henson is also known for her roles in films like “Hidden Figures,” the two “Think Like a Man” films (which also starred Hart), and most recently “The Color Purple.”

 

She is repped by CAA, M88 and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

 

Shaye Ogbonna serves as creator, and showruns alongside Jason Horwitch. Both executive produce alongside Hart, Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Hartbeat; Packer and Sabrina Wind for Will Packer Media; Conal Byrne and Carrie Lieberman for iHeartPodcasts; and Jeff Keating of Doghouse Pictures LLC and Lars Jacobson. Also executive producing is Brewer, who will direct the first two and last two episodes. Tiffany Brown, Erika Johnson, and Kenny Burns co-executive produce. UTV serves as the studio.