OWN orders series by 'Moonlight' co-writer Tarell Alvin McCraney

Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) has announced a new one-hour drama series from Moonlight co-writer and executive producer Tarell Alvin McCraney.

Marking his first television series, McCraney will create, write and executive produce the new coming-of-age drama, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television, with Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy serving as executive producers under their Page Fright production banner.

Michael B Jordan is also joining as an executive producer via his Outlier Productions banner. 

Set in South Florida at the end of the Obama legacy, the drama inspired by events in McCraney’s own life, explores the precarious balance needed for the making of a man.

Haunted by the death of his closest friend, and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty, a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out. 

McCraney, along with Barry Jenkins, received a best adapted screenplay Oscar for co-writing the 2016 film Moonlight, which also won best picture. The film was based on McCraney’s semi-autobiographical script In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. 

McCraney currently serves as the chair of playwriting at the Yale School of Drama.

McCraney’s series will join OWN’s recently announced Love Is __ from Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, along with current series Queen Sugar and Greenleaf, both just renewed for third seasons.

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

McCraney said: “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.”

Kelley and Loy added: “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.”

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.”