Ava DuVernay, the visionary director and producer behind Selma and When They See Us, is bringing her passion for inclusive storytelling to the small screen with a brand-new romantic drama series in development for Starz.
The project, which has already secured a three-season “script-to-series” commitment from the network, will be executive produced by DuVernay, along with Lauren Ridloff (known for Eternals and The Walking Dead) and Joshua Jackson (Fringe, When They See Us).
DuVernay shared her excitement in a statement with Ebony Magazine: “On behalf of my producing partner Paul Garnes and everyone at Array Filmworks, I’m thrilled to develop this passion project with Lauren, Josh, and Kat.” She praised Starz and Warner Bros. Television for making a “bold production commitment” to the story — one she hopes will become a “beautiful journey” for all involved.
The untitled, half-hour series promises a fresh, deeply emotional love story between two seemingly opposite people. According to the synopsis, one lead is a Black, ambitious, deaf woman, and the other is a restless white man who questions commitment. Their attraction doesn’t just challenge each other — it challenges conventional ideas around race, gender, class, physical ability, and social norms.
Kat Candler (Queen Sugar) will serve as showrunner and write the pilot, with Paul Garnes also on board as an executive producer. DuVernay, through her celebrated narrative-change collective ARRAY Filmworks, will also oversee writing, leveraging her overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.
The series’ ambition is clear: to tell a “radical, rebellious love” story — one that doesn’t just fall in love, but stays in love, through difference.
- REAVES