The untitled production is currently in development and it will explore the story of the African-American teenager, who was murdered after allegedly flirting with a white woman in Mississippi in 1955.

The 99 problems hitmaker and Smith, who worked together on 2014's Annie movie remake, are currently searching for a writer for the project.

It will air on America's HBO network.

Jay Z and the Men in Black star's project is not the only Emmett Till production in the works - film critic Roger Ebert's widow, Chaz Ebert, is executive producing a film based on the book Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America, which was written by Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, and award-winning journalist Christopher Benson.