The Oprah Winfrey Network has released the trailer for it’s new television series Queen Sugar. The show is executive produced by Oprah, Melissa Carter and Ava DuVernay, who also directed the first two episodes of the season.
Debuting on September 6th, Queen Sugar was inspired by Natalie Baszile’s novel of the same name:
The contemporary drama “Queen Sugar” chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Saint Josephine, Louisiana: Nova (Rutina Wesley “True Blood”), a world-wide journalist and activist; Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner “Unforgettable”), the savvy wife and manager of an NBA star; and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe “Awkward”), a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption. After a family tragedy, the Bordelons must navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run an ailing sugarcane farm in the Deep South.
In addition to DuVernay, OWN notes that every episode of the debut season will be directed by a woman. Entertainment Weekly reports that the list of directors include Tina Mabry, Tanya Hamilton, Neema Barnette, So Yong Kim, Victoria Mahoney, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield.
The trailer reveals the beautiful, rich visuals that we’re used to from Ava DuVernay and looks heavy on the drama. The cast includes an list of black actors who have worked in the industry for decades and seem to finally be getting a chance to shine. It also includes True Blood’s Rutina Wesley and the ageless, Beyoncé-related Bianca Lawson.
Queen Sugar will join Greenleaf, The Haves and the Have Nots and Love Thy Neighbor on OWN’s original scripted programming roster.