*HBO has decided not to move forward with its drama pilot “Mogadishu, Minnesota,” written, directed and executive produced by rapper K’naan Warsame and executive produced by “The Hurt Locker” and “Detroit” director, Kathryn Bigelow.
“Mogadishu, Minnesota will not be moving forward as a series,” HBO said in a statement to Deadline. “We value the relationship we’ve built working with the talented K’Naan Warsame and hope to have a chance to work with him in the future.
The project was a family drama that grapples with what it means to be American – among the Somalis of Minneapolis. It was ordered to pilot in June 2016, but the property faced an uphill battle from jump.
According to Deadline, filming of the pilot in Minneapolis faced objections from some in the local Somalian community who were concerned that the show may reinforce stereotypes that Muslims in the U.S. are involved in terrorist cells.
While terrorism was part of the plot of “Mogadishu, Minnesota,” HBO executives have maintained in interviews that it was a small part and the drama was mostly about how young Somali Americans are torn between holding to their parents traditions and embracing American culture.
The pilot starred Elvis Nolasco, K.C. Collins, Rif Hutton, Ezana Alem, Hanad Abdirahman Abdi, Selam Tadese, Prince Abdi, Yusra Warsama and Liya Kebede.
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