Oprah & Lionsgate To Expand ‘The 1619 Project’ Into Featured Films & TV Shows

July 9, 2020 by Cierra Jones in Film with 0 Comments

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah & Lionsgate To Expand ‘The 1619 Project’ Into Featured Films & TV Shows

Almost a year after the debut of The 1619 Project, a partnership between Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate has been announced to convert the series into TV shows and featured films. The series was first released by The New York Times on the 400th anniversary of the first Africans to be brought in Virginia, to re-evaluate the legacy of slavery in America.

The series is a collection of essays, stories, and original poems from writers that examine how slavery framed every aspect of society, including music, law, and education. The New York Times assistant managing editor Sam Dolnick said,

“Since the publication of ‘The 1619 Project’ last year, we have been searching for the right partners to expand the reach of its message into film and television while preserving the authenticity of its voice.”

He added:

“We believe that Lionsgate and Oprah Winfrey are the perfect combination of partners who understand the editorial integrity of The Times and the gravity of The 1619 Project’s message, and have the reach, resources, compassion and talent relationships to join with us and with Nikole in producing films, television and other programming for a global audience that do justice to the project.”

Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer saluted the project and said,

“For many Americans, ‘The 1619 Project’ was a great awakening and a true history that you probably never learned in school. For others, the project was a fresh analysis of the historical record by one of the world’s leading media authorities.”

As for how the series decided to work with Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate, the series architect, Nikole Hannah-Jones stated:

“We took very seriously our duty to find TV and film partners that would respect and honor the work and mission of ‘The 1619 Project,’ that understood our vision and deep moral obligation to doing justice to these stories.”

She continued:

“Through every step of the process, Lionsgate and its leadership have shown themselves to be that partner, and it is a dream to be able to produce this work with Ms. Oprah Winfrey, a trailblazer and beacon to so many Black journalists. I am excited for this opportunity to extend the breadth and reach of ‘The 1619 Project’ and to introduce these stories of Black resistance and resilience to even more American households.”

Nikole Hannah-Jones will work as a creative leader and a producer alongside series editor, Caitlin Rope, in expanding the series to featured films, documentaries, TV shows, and etc.

On why she chose to work on this project, Oprah Winfrey said:

“From the first moment I read ‘The 1619 Project’ and immersed myself in Nikole Hannah-Jones’s transformative work, I was moved, deepened and strengthened by her empowering historical analysis.”

There has currently been no announcement or release of information on when the projects will begin to take place.

Watch the “1619 Project” below.