Ava DuVernay has secured a first look deal with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and renewed Queen Sugar for a third season. DuVernay’s Central Park Five is the first collaboration for Netflix from Participant Media, Tribeca Productions and Harpo Films. Winfrey released a statement on their new partnership:
“I’m so proud of Ava and her ability as a filmmaker to challenge the status quo and push for inclusiveness on screen and behind the camera. I love, love, love the work we have been able to create so far. I am looking forward to developing many more meaningful projects together.”
Queen Sugar airs on Wednesday nights at 10 PM ET and it chronicles the lives of the Bordelon family and their newly acquired farm and sugar mill. OWN has announced that Roger Guenveur Smith, Beverly Todd and Michael Michele will have recurring roles in season two. Michele and Smith will play the estranged parents of Bianca Lawson’s character Darla. Todd plays Mother Olivia Brown, a beloved and respected matriarchal activist living in the 9th Ward.
DuVernay’s all-female directing team includes Julie Dash, Sundance Award-winning director Garrett Bradley and Christina Voros who is the acclaimed cinematographer of Child Of God and directed The Ladies.
