Behind 50 Cent's Extreme Weight Loss For 'Things Fall Apart' Role

By Sharmaine Jones

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is known for having a muscular physique, so it's no surprise that rumors would circulate over the rapper's more than 50 pound weight loss. Going to this extreme for a film role is nothing new to Hollywood (Christian Bale in the "The Machinist"), so the question is, how did he do it?

According to thisis50.com, the rapper/actor endured “a liquid diet and three-hour-a-day treadmill walks for nine weeks.” This routine was necessary for his upcoming role in "Things Fall Apart", a film co-written by Curtis and directed by Mario Van Peeples.

"I was starving," Jackson revealed. Now that he's back on tour, 50 says, "I've been eating. I'll be back in shape in no time!"

Curtis shared film details with Cleveland.com:

"“Things Fall Apart?” Oh, it’s myself Mario Van Peebles, Ray Liotta, Lynn Whitfield and it’s a project that I wrote, produced and financed myself. It’s about a Heisman hopeful who could possibly be going to the league and everyone is assuming he’s gonna make it and then he’s hit with an illness. I had a friend of mine who actually experienced cancer and it’s what motivated me to write this screenplay. You don’t have to make everything personal, but that project was. That’s why I committed to playing a role where I lost 54 pounds."

Considering the toll this must have taken on Curtis' stamina, we hope the film is a success and the stringent 9 weeks weren't in vain!

“Things Fall Apart” is scheduled to release sometime next year.

For music fans, 50 Cent's The Invitation tour kicks off at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland on May 28, supporting his fourth and fifth studio albums Before I Self Destruct and Black Magic (Summer 2010).

Would you ever lose an extreme amount of weight for a job? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags 50 Cent, Curtis Jackson, Things Fall Apart, weight loss