HBO Max Taps Director Karena Evans for New Gossip Girl

HBO Max has tapped director Karena Evans to direct the pilot and second episode of the upcoming Gossip Girl series, set to launch in 2021.

Based on the original CW series, which ran from 2007 to 2012, and the best-selling novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, the reimagined drama finds a new generation of New York private school teens being introduced to social surveillance eight years after the original blogger’s website went dark.

Evans came into the spotlight in 2018 directing music videos for Drake, starring in the feature film Firecrackers and being honored with the Prism Prize Lipsett Award for her approach to music video art, making her the first woman ever to receive the award.

“Josh Safran has found a perfect partner in Karena to illustrate how the landscape of social media, the upper east side and the world have changed since Gossip Girl premiered 13 years ago,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. “Additionally, her passion for inclusive storytelling matches Josh’s and we are proud to have her on this journey with us.”

“I couldn’t be more excited for Karena to launch the new series,” said Joshua Safran, writer and executive producer of the series. “Her vision, voice, and passion are incomparable. It’s an honor and a privilege to get to work with her, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what she has planned.”