Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Hannah-Jones Set to Adapt 'The 1619 Project' Into Lionsgate Film, TV Series & More

Nicole Hannah-Jones will serve as a producer for the forthcoming portfolio of feature films, television series and more.

Oprah Winfrey, the New York Times and Lionsgate have announced plans to adapt The 1619 Project alongside Nicole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist.  Last year, the Times unveiled The 1619 Project, an expansive reporting project that explored the origins of African slavery in America, Hannah-Jones was instrumental in bringing journalists, writers, and scholars together. The newly minted partnership will adapt the masterful reporting into feature films, television series, documentaries and more. 

According to an exclusive report by The Root, Hannah-Jones will serve as the creative leader and producer for many of the concepts which will include unscripted programming. Caitlin Roper of the Times Magazine and an editor of The 1619 Project will also produce. Winfrey and Lionsgate will also partner and she will “provide stewardship and guidance to the development of The 1619 Project,” per The Root. 

Hannah-Jones shared the following details on the vision for the adaptation in a statement to The Root:

“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 also added, “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.”

Take a look at a few celebratory tweets below.