Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay Team Up for Original Drama Series For OWN

Oprah Winfrey and celebrated filmmaker Ava DuVernay must have had a magical time on the set of Selma because they are carrying over their collaborative efforts to a new project that is set to air on OWN.

DuVernay will be scripting, directing and producing an original series about a free spirited woman who along with her daughter leaves her privileged existence in L.A. to seek a more rooted lifestyle in the South thanks to the impressive 800-acre sugar cane farm she inherits from her late father who was based in Louisiana.

Winfrey will have a recurring role in the drama that was extracted from the pages of the novel by Natalie Baszile titled Queen Sugar.

Winfrey was captivated by the themes of the book and immediately saw the possibility of OWN adhering to its message. “I loved this book and immediately saw it as a series for OWN “. “The story’s themes of reinventing your life, parenting alone, family connections and conflicts, and building new relationships are what I believe will connect our viewers to this show”.

This new venture will mark Winfrey’s acting debut on the network she founded back in 2011. It will also usher in DuVernay’s first dip into the world of television.

DuVernay who made history as the first African-American woman director to garner a best director Golden Globe nomination was humbled by the prospect of the opportunity to breathe life into a story that contains all the elements of culture, family, and identity. “From the moment I was introduced to the book, I was captivated by the idea of a modern woman wrestling with identity, family, culture and the echoes of history. To bring this kind of storytelling to life alongside Oprah for her network is wildly wonderful. I’m excited about what’s in store”.

This should prove to be a worthy endeavor – unfortunately we have to wait until later this year to partake of the offerings but better late than never!