Dr. Dre's 'Vital Signs' Drama Deemed Too Graphic by Apple

CEO Tim Cook was "troubled" by the six-episode drama

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Sep 24, 2018

Apple has reportedly shelved Dr. Dre's semi-autobiographical drama series Vital Signs after CEO Tim Cook found its content too graphic and violent.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Cook viewed the series more than a year ago and was "troubled" by scenes that "featured characters doing lines of cocaine, an extended orgy in a mansion and drawn guns."

First reported to be in development as an original program for the tech giant in 2016, Vital Signs was said to be a six-episode showcase of a different aspect of the hip-hop icon's personality.

Actors such as Sam Rockwell, Michael K. Williams and Ian McShane had been tied to the project. In a 2016 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rockwell revealed, "I play Ego, and Ian McShane is Vengeance, and Michael K. Williams is Negativity," adding, "We had a couple of orgy scenes. That was interesting."

The Wall Street Journal reports that "Apple has made clear, say producers and agents, that it wants high-quality shows with stars and broad appeal," when it comes to original programming, "but it doesn't want gratuitous sex, profanity or violence."

Recently, Dre wrapped work on Anderson .Paak's forthcoming LP Oxnard. Earlier this year, he was said to be in the early stages of making a Marvin Gaye biopic.

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