Greenleaf (TV series)
| Greenleaf | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre |
Drama Mystery |
| Created by | Craig Wright |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Gerrit Van der Meer |
| Location(s) | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Lionsgate Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | Oprah Winfrey Network |
| Picture format | |
| Original release | June 21, 2016 |
Greenleaf is an upcoming American television drama series, created by Craig Wright, and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate Television. Clement Virgo also serves as an executive producer and director. Greenleaf will debut on the Oprah Winfrey Network on June 21, 2016.[1] On April 21, 2016, the series was renewed for a second season ahead of television premiere.[2][3]
Greenleaf follows the unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family with scandalous secrets and lies, and their sprawling Memphis megachurch with predominantly African-American members. The series is headed by Keith David as Bishop James Greenleaf, and Lynn Whitfield as his wife and matriarch of the family, Lady Mae Greenleaf. Merle Dandridge plays series' protagonist, Grace Greenleaf, their estranged daughter who has returned home after 20 years following the mysterious death of her sister, Faith.
Production
Development
On July 30, 2015, it was announced that Oprah Winfrey Network ordered straight-to-series new scripted drama Greenleaf about powerful African-American dynasty of the Greenleaf family and their sprawling megachurch in Memphis, Tennessee.[4][5][6] Its making Greenleaf the second after Ava DuVernay's Queen Sugar scripted drama that is not from Tyler Perry.[7] The series was created by Lost and Six Feet Under writer Craig Wright and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey with Wright and Lionsgate Television.13-episodes for first season set for production later in 2015.[5] On September 9, 2015, The Book of Negroes writer and director Clement Virgo joined the series as executive producer and director of the pilot episode.[8]
Filming of the first season began in October, 2015 in Atlanta,[9] and ended on March 24, 2016.[10] On January 21, 2016, it was announced that series will debut with a two-night premiere at 10pm Tuesday, May 24, 2016 and 10pm Wednesday, May 25, and will regularly air on Wednesdays at 10pm.[11] Later premiere was moved to June 21, 2016 and June 22, 2016.[12] The world premiere of Greenleaf will be during Tribeca Film Festival in April, before television debut in June 2016.[13][14][15]
Casting
Casting advertising began in August 2015. On August 24, 2015, it was announced that Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge and Desiree Ross are the first actors cast in series.[16] Emmy Award winner Whitfield will star as Lady Mae Greenleaf, Bishop Greenleaf’s wife, steely and power and money hungry matriarch of the family, while Dandridge play her estranged daughter who returns to home with her teenage daughter (played by Ross).[16] On September 3, 2015, Keith David was cast in the leading role of Bishop James Greenleaf, the family patriarch and leader of Greenleaf World Ministries.[17] On September 4, 2015 Tye White has been cast as son-in-law of the Bishop.[18] On September 9, 2015, Lamman Rucker, Kim Hawthorne and Deborah Joy Winans have landed the last three regular roles.[19] Rucker plays eldest son, while Hawthorne stars as his controlling wife. Winans plays the youngest daughter of the Bishop.[20]
On September 24, 2015, it was announced that series' executive producer Oprah Winfrey joined Greenleaf in a recurring role as Mavis McCready, the sister of Lady Mae Greenleaf.[21][22] Whitfield and Winfrey previous co-starred in the 1989 miniseries The Women of Brewster Place. On November 20, 2015 Anna Diop was cast as a teacher who is engaged to Greenleaf Estate’s manager.[23] Three days later, it was announced that Terri J. Vaughn will recurs as chief housekeeper at Greenleaf mansion.[24]
Cast and characters
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Regular cast
- Keith David as Bishop James Greenleaf, charismatic and manipulative leader of Greenleaf World Ministries
- Lynn Whitfield as Lady Mae Greenleaf, Bishop Greenleaf’s wife and family matriarch
- Merle Dandridge as Grace Greenleaf, Mae and Bishop's middle daughter who returns to home 20 years after escaping from family
- Lamman Rucker as Jacob Greenleaf, the eldest, ne’er-do-well son of the Bishop
- Kim Hawthorne as Kerissa Greenleaf, Jacob’s ambitious and controlling wife
- Deborah Joy Winans as Charity Greenleaf-Satterlee, the youngest daughter of the Bishop and also Minister of Music
- Tye White as Kevin Satterlee, Charity's husband
- Desiree Ross as Sophia Greenleaf, Grace’s teenage daughter
Recurring cast
- Oprah Winfrey as Mavis McCready, Lady Mae's sister and a close confidant of Grace; also a blues club owner
- Gregory Alan Williams as Robert 'Mac' McCready
- Terri J. Vaughn as Melisse, the chief housekeeper at Greenleaf mansion
- Anna Diop as Isabel, a teacher who is engaged to Greenleaf Estate’s manager, Noah Kendall
- Benjamin Patterson as Noah Kendall
- Kristin Erickson as Alexa Campbell, Jacob's mistress,
- Jen Harper as Deacon Connie Sykes
- Roxzane T. Mims as Darlene
- Parnell Damone Marcano as Carlton Cruise
- Avis-Marie Barnes as Misty Williams
- Deji LaRay as David Nelson
- Carlacia Grant as Danielle Turner
- Lovie Simone as Zora Greenleaf
- Xavier Charles as Morris Davis
- Zachary S. Williams as William
Episodes
The tenth episode of the season is titled "March to the Sea."[25]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Clement Virgo | Craig Wright | June 21, 2016 | TBD |
| 2 | "The Baptism" | Donna Dietch | Craig Wright | June 22, 2016 | TBD |
| 3 | TBA | Charles Stone II | Art Alamo | June 22, 2016 | TBD |
References
- ↑ Denise Petski. "‘Greenleaf’: OWN’s Megachurch Drama Series Gets Premiere Date - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ http://deadline.com/2016/04/greenleaf-season-2-renewal-own-oprah-winfrey-network-1201741654/
- ↑ http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/own-shows-confidence-in-greenleaf-orders-second-season-ahead-of-season-one-premiere-20160421
- ↑ Denise Petski. "OWN Sets Megachurch Drama Series From Craig Wright & Lionsgate". Deadline. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- 1 2 Reece Ristau. "OWN Picks Up Megachurch Drama - Variety". Variety. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ↑ "OWN Orders Megachurch Drama From 'Lost' Grad Straight to Series (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ↑ Tambay A. Obenson (24 August 2015). "Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge and Desiree Ross Cast in - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ↑ Courtney (14 September 2015). "Clement Virgo Boards OWN's Mega-Church Drama 'Greenleaf' - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ↑ Denise Petski. "Oprah Winfrey To Recur In OWN’s Megachurch Drama ‘Greenleaf’". Deadline. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ "Merle Dandridge on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ↑ Rick Kissell. "OWN”s Megachurch Drama ‘Greenleaf’ to Premiere in May - Variety". Variety. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ Jacob Bryant. "Watch: Oprah Winfrey Returns to Scripted TV in ‘Greenleaf’ - Variety". Variety. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ↑ Jeremy Gerard. "Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Greenleaf’ To Premiere At Tribeca Film Fest - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ Gordon Cox. "Tribeca Film Festival Launches TV Programming with Tribeca Tune In - Variety". Variety. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ "Tribeca Film Festival: The Good Wife, more TV events announced as part of Tribeca Tune In - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- 1 2 Denise Petski. "Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge & Desiree Ross Join ‘Greenleaf’ - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Keith David To Star In OWN Drama Series ‘Greenleaf’". Deadline. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ↑ Denise Petski. "Tye White Joins OWN’s ‘Greenleaf’ - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ↑ Denise Petski. "OWN Megachurch Drama Series ‘Greenleaf’ Rounds Out Cast - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
- ↑ Tambay A. Obenson (9 September 2015). "Lamman Rucker, Kim Hawthorne and Deborah Joy Winans Join - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
- ↑ "Oprah Winfrey to Recur on OWN Drama 'Greenleaf'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ Liz Raftery (24 September 2015). "Oprah Winfrey Will Star in OWN Drama Greenleaf". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ Erik Pedersen. "Barry Rothbart Collars ‘Downward Dog’ Gig; Anna Diop Joins OWN Drama ‘Greenleaf’ - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ↑ Denise Petski. "Terri J. Vaughn Joins ‘Greenleaf’; Ellia English In ‘Code Black’ - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ↑ Merle Dandridge [MerleDandridge] (February 19, 2016). "#sarahjones #owntv #Greenleaf #lionsgate" (Tweet).
External links
- Greenleaf at the Internet Movie Database