Lena Waithe has inked an overall production deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.
The exclusive, multi-year agreement between the Emmy-winning writer was announced Monday in a press release.
As part of the deal, The Chi showrunner will be producing new television programming through her production company, Hillman Grad, for all platforms including WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, external streaming services, cable, and the group’s five broadcast networks.
First up, Waithe is developing a scripted drama series inspired by the documentary film Hoop Dreams.
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The series will follow two Black teens in 1990s Chicago as they navigate basketball and their dreams of turning pro.
“To have our first project together be an adaptation of the seminal documentary Hoop Dreams is a testament to the ambition of our partnership. Hoop Dreams was more than just a documentary, it was a groundbreaking window into a community that was rarely ever seen,” Waithe and her Hillman Grad partner Rishi Rajani said in a joint statement.
“We look forward to bringing the legacy of Hoop Dreams back to the screen,” they continued.
Waithe and Rajani will executive produce the project under their Hillman Grad banner, along with Scott Huff, David A. Stern, and Colin Callender of Playground Entertainment, and Steve James, Peter Gilbert, and Frederick Marx. Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (S.W.A.T., Friday Night Lights, The Get Down) is set to write and executive produce.
Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad previously had a two-year overall deal with Amazon Studios.
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