Okay so we just moved into a new home and we're currently renovating it. The previous owners tiled over the brick fireplace. They used a slate tile which i really liked but we removed it because it wasn't well done. Anyway, now we want to tile the fireplace with a stacked stone. We also want to hang the tv over it. My question is this: should we enclose the fireplace with drywall or backer board so we could run the electrical necessary for the tv behind it, then tile over the drywall? The other option would be to cut out a small crevice to run the electrical into the brick then thinset over the entire fireplace to create a smooth surface so we could tile the fireplace. I hope this makes sense? Thank you!

I've attached some before and after photos of the fireplace. Not that it matters but we replaced the wood floors in the picture with dark distressed maple floors and have changed the window and patio door to matching french doors on either side of the fireplace. The photo was taken last week but im too lazy to go down stairs and take another photo. lol!