The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) is steadily continuing to ramp up its original programming.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the network has ordered a new coming of age drama, created by Moonlight writer Tarell Alvin McCraney and executive-produced by Michael B. Jordan.
The series, which is now untitled, will center around a 14-year-old prodigy, who while “haunted by the death of his closest friend, and relying on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty, he must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out. ”
It is set in South Florida “at the end of the Obama legacy,” and inspired by events in McCraney’s life.
This is his first foray into television after the Academy Award-winning Moonlight.
“When Tarell shared his powerful story with us there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. I knew this was something special
Michael B. Jordan said: “Being young, gifted and black in America today and anywhere for that matter makes it extremely hard and challenging to follow your dreams and achieve success. Tarell’s adaptation of this reality was so honest and true and it’s the exact message our youth needs today.”
McCraney and Jordan will executive produce with Revenge’s Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy. The duo commented, “From the moment Tarell began discussing his profoundly moving story with us, we knew we needed to find a courageous home to nurture his extraordinary vision. No one is better equipped to do that than Oprah Winfrey and her talented team.”
This series will join upcoming programming on OWN including Love Is __ from Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil and new seasons of Greenleaf, Queen Sugar and Tyler Perry’s The Haves and The Have Nots. Will Packer also has a first-look deal with OWN to develop programming and Ava DuVernay has a first-look with Harpo Films.
