Nicki Minaj has officially locked in talent for her forthcoming ABC Family comedy Nicki. The Billboard cover star announced the actors slated to star in the scripted series in an Instagram post on Friday (Dec. 18).
Fruitvale Station starlet Ariana Neal will play the leading lady as Nicki, a role "inspired by Nicki Minaj in her early years before she became a Grammy Award-nominated, multiplatinum superstar," according to a screenshot of the release that Minaj posted. Other Hollywood notables will be supermodel/ actress Selita Ebanks, who will play Grace, Minaj's mom. Academy Award-winning vet Whoopi Goldberg will also guest star as Minaj's neighbor, Miss Martha. McCarrie McCausland will play Minaj's older brother, Jaylen, while Wesley Jonathan will tackle the role of their father, Vincent.
The Pinkprint rapstress recently told Billboard that she has been very hands-on in the creative process. "I am maybe too involved," she said. "Two days ago I was in casting. I’m going back tomorrow. I found one girl who I’m obsessed with who might play me, and someone who could rival her. So I’ve been coaching them both. I do a beat, let them rap. I do little dances with them. It has been magical. I didn’t even know I had it in me, but I love children so much."
She did reveal one stipulation, though: "My first day, I said to the casting director: 'This will not be a clichéd black show.'"
Minaj is slated to executive produce and Nicki, heading to small screens on ABC Family, which will revamp its network name to Freeform on Jan. 12, 2016.
