The crime drama BMF could have easily stretched past its four-season run had executive producers chosen a different lead actor to portray drug kingpin Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, according to former series star Da’Vinchi.
Speaking on the Oct. 2 episode of Cam Newton’s Funky Friday podcast, the actor—who starred as Meech’s brother, Terry “Southwest T” Flenory—shared his candid thoughts on why the Starz hit came to an abrupt end.
When Newton directly asked if the series would still be on the air with someone else cast in the starring role instead of the kingpin’s real-life son, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., Da’Vinchi didn’t hesitate.
“100%, 1,000%,” Da’Vinchi said.
While praising the show’s creative team, writers, and ensemble cast, Da’Vinchi pointed toward backstage difficulties between executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and the show’s lead star as a primary factor in its demise.
“Everyone was amazing,” Da’Vinchi explained. “But I think that Curtis Jackson’s biggest thing was that it was just really hard to contain Demetrius Flenory Jr.”
Despite the critique, Da’Vinchi expressed empathy for his former co-star, noting the intense pressure placed on an inexperienced young actor thrust into instant stardom while portraying his famous father.
“I got nothing but love for him, and I don’t know what it’s like to have that level of pressure,” he admitted, pointing out that Lil Meech was essentially trying to find his own identity while navigating overnight celebrity and public expectations. By contrast, Da’Vinchi noted that portraying Terry allowed him to leave his work on set because he had no personal tied-in lineage to the real-life figure.
BMF premiered in 2021, detailing the Flenory brothers’ rapid ascension from the streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980s to building one of the nation’s most notorious drug empires. Alongside Lil Meech and Da’Vinchi, the show featured a star-studded cast including Russell Hornsby, Michole Briana White, Steve Harris, Laila Pruitt, and La La Anthony.
The series came to an unexpected halt when Starz canceled it in October 2025. The Season 4 finale, titled “Dreams Deferred,” aired in August 2025 and concluded with Detective Bryant (Harris) arresting Meech—a dramatic cliffhanger that ultimately served as the series finale.
According to Da’Vinchi, the writing team was actively working on Season 5 scripts when the network pulled the plug.
“We could have done six, seven years,” Da’Vinchi revealed. “There was so much material in the story that we’ve never gotten to… Like man, I could have made like $40 million.”
Behind the scenes, the show’s ending was presaged by public friction. Tensions grew between 50 Cent and Lil Meech over the young actor’s public ties to several of the G-Unit mogul’s industry rivals. Lil Meech had also generated headlines following two separate legal incidents in Florida in 2022—one involving allegations over stolen luxury watches and another concerning a firearm in airport carry-on luggage—though prosecutors ultimately dropped or declined to file charges in both matters.
The situation grew more complicated following Big Meech’s release from federal prison in October 2024. By early 2025, reports surfaced that 50 Cent’s relationship with both Big Meech and his son had severely deteriorated after the father-son duo aligned themselves with hip-hop mogul Rick Ross, 50 Cent’s long-standing rival.
After Ross publicly announced plans for a welcome-home concert for Big Meech, a wave of social media exchanges ensued, leaving BMF caught in the middle of the feud shortly before Starz officially shuttered the series.
The fallout marked a stark turn from the beginning of the project. Prior to the show’s 2021 debut, Lil Meech frequently credited 50 Cent for launching his acting career, noting that the producer enrolled him in acting classes and championed him for the role when others doubted him.
