Jussie Smollett directs new movie B-Boy Blues in Manhattan

Jussie Smollett is making his comeback in the film industry after his alleged fake hate crime scandal, but this time the actor is behind the camera.

DailyMail.com spotted the former Empire star back to work in Manhattan and on set of a new movie he’s directing called B-Boy Blues.

Smollett, 38, was seen wearing a mask with headphones around his neck, a bright yellow beanie and colorful camouflage jacket with the words ‘born to win’ and ‘freedom here’ emblazoned on the front.

And while many may have thought his career was over after being accused of staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself last year in Chicago, it appears Smollett has found a home in Hollywood as a director.

DailyMail.com spotted the former Empire star back to work in Manhattan and on set of a new movie he’s directing, called B-Boy Blues

Smollett, 38, was seen wearing a a mask with headphones around his neck, a bright yellow beanie and colorful camo jacket with the words ‘born to win’ and ‘freedom here’ emblazoned on the front

Smollett was seen with a full cast and crew in Manhattan as he was directing the film adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s 1994 book B-Boy Blues starring Ledisi, Brandon Evans and Broderick Hunter

Smollett will also serve as a producer on the film alongside Hardy, Tom Wilson, Frank Gatson, Sampson McCormick and Madia Hill Scott

While many may have thought his career was over after being accused of staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself in Chicago, it appears Smollett has found a home in Hollywood as a director

This is Smollett’s first job since he was accused of staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself in Chicago

Smollett was seen with a full cast and crew in Manhattan as he was directing the film adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s 1994 book B-Boy Blues starring Ledisi, Brandon Evans and Broderick Hunter.

While there is no word if Smollett is planning on starring in the film himself, production began on October 17 in New York City.

B-Boy Blues centers on the complicated relationship between two black men, one a journalist and the other a bike messenger. The book was believed to be one of the first to explore same-sex love stories within the hip-hop community.

The novel was a finalist for the 1995 Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBT/Small Press Title, which Hardy himself had also adapted for the stage in 2013.

Smollett will also serve as a producer on the film alongside Hardy, Tom Wilson, Frank Gatson, Sampson McCormick and Madia Hill Scott.

Smollett is producing through his newly-formed SuperMassive Movies brand, an off-shoot of his Story Worthy Pictures company.

The actor-producer has teamed with Wilson, a Cleveland-based investor, to secure ‘mid seven figures’ in funding that will be used to finance projects from minority filmmakers.

While B-Boy Blues marks Smollett’s feature directing debut, he did direct two episodes of Empire back in 2018.