OWN Orders Coming-of-Age Drama from Moonlight Co-Writer

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has ordered a new one-hour drama from Tarell Alvin McCraney, co-writer and executive producer of the Academy Award-winning movie Moonlight.

The drama will center on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied 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. The show will be set in South Florida at the end of the Obama legacy. It is inspired by events in McCraney’s own life.

Marking his first TV series, McCraney is creator, writer and executive producer of the new coming-of-age drama, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy (Revenge, Swingtown) will serve as executive producers under their Page Fright production banner alongside Michael B. Jordan (Creed), who is also joining as executive producer via his Outlier Productions.

“When Tarell shared his powerful story with us there wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” said Oprah Winfrey. “I knew this was something special that our viewers will without a doubt connect to and feel compelled to explore with us. I am honored to be working with Tarell and the rest of the producers on this project.”

“I wanted to explore the pivotal steps towards adulthood and identity, the ones we take when we think or feel we have no other choice,” said McCraney.

“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,” added Kelley and Loy.

“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,” said Jordan. “Tarell’s adaptation of this reality was so honest and true and it’s the exact message our youth needs today.”