Logan Browning in Netflix's "Dear White People"
Logan Browning in Netflix’s “Dear White People”

Justin Simien’s feature film debut “Dear White People” is heading to Netflix for what will be a 10-episode comedy series, starring Logan Browning.

Brandon P. Bell, Nia Long, Antoinette Robertson, DeRon Horton, John Patrick Amedori, Marque Richardson and Ashley Blaine Featherson are also cast members.

Brandon P. Bell (who co-starred in the original film) is reprising his role, playing Troy Fairbanks who is campaigning to become Winchester University’s first black student president. Logan Browning meanwhile plays the role originated by Tessa Thompson in the film – Samantha White, a biracial film major at the fictional Winchester University, a prestigious and predominantly white school, whose radio show “Dear White People” lands her a spot in a campus political movement. Several black student groups want her as their spokesperson, but Sam is still learning to speak for herself.

Nia Long plays Neika Hobbs, who is described as an African American studies professor at Winchester University with a whip-smart intellect and unflappable confidence, whose pulled-together professional life contrasts a more complicated personal one.

Lionsgate Television, who co-released the film 3 years ago, is backing the Netflix series which follows a similar narrative as the film, based on Simien’s own experiences at a predominately white university. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in so-called ‘post-racial’ America, while weaving a universal story of forging one’s unique path in the world.

Stephanie Allain and Julia Lebedev, who both served as executive producers of the original film, are doing the same for the series, along with Yvette Lee Bowser.

Netflix has set an April 28, 2017 premiere for “Dear White People” the series, and has released a teaser/announcement video which is embedded below: