‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ Writer Shares Potential Streaming Update Following Andre Braugher’s Death

“Homicide: Life on the Street” writer and producer David Simon revealed in an X/Twitter post that the series may be heading to streaming services.

“I have been informed by a reliable source that NBC/Universal is at last attempting, along with Fremantle on the overseas rights, to clear music rights on #Homicide for eventual streaming. Lot of work to do achieve that, however, I am also told,” Simon wrote. “Andre alone ought to rate such.”

The news comes days after the death of Andre Braugher, who portrayed Detective Frank Pembleton on the police drama series. Braugher died Dec. 11 of lung cancer at age 61.

“Homicide,” which ran for seven seasons from 1993 to 1999, follows a fictionalized version of the Baltimore Police Department. Along with Braugher, the series stars Kyle Secor, Richard Belzer, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto and Melissa Leo. Braugher earned the lead actor Emmy for his role in the series in 1998, his last year starring on the show.

Simon, who wrote the book “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets” that the NBC series is based on, reflected on Braugher’s passing in later X posts, praising the actor’s talent and expressing gratitude for being able to work with him: “I’ve had some days to reflect on Andre Braugher and his passing, and with time and a bit more effort, I’ve been able to summon a variety of recollections and some real pride at for a time having the chance to write lines — some of them good — for a magnificent actor…”

He went on to describe the time Braugher questioned one of the lines Simon wrote, where Detective Frank Pembleton was supposed to refer to a woman as “mama.” Simon offered to rewrite it, but Braugher instead said the line with a “continental, upper-crust embrace of the word and keeping the moment utterly within character.”

“At least, when the shot concluded, he was charitable enough to look over to the monitors and give me a tight, quick smile,” Simon continued.