Television

Ava DuVernay and “Queen Sugar’s” Kat Candler Bringing Woman-Driven Union Drama to TNT

Candler: Tamir Kalifa/candlerproductions.com

Ava DuVernay and Kat Candler are re-teaming to tell the story of a female workers rights activist. The “Queen Sugar” collaborators are developing an untitled drama, described as “a modern-day ‘Norma Rae,'” for TNT. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Candler is writing the project.

Hailing from DuVernay’s ARRAY Filmworks and Warner Horizon Scripted Television, the series centers on a “struggling young wife and mother who, after an oil refinery explosion takes the life of an old friend, will go on to lead one of the biggest union strikes in Texas history.”

Candler is a writer and executive producer on the DuVernay-created “Queen Sugar.” She served as showrunner on the OWN family drama’s third season, and has directed several episodes. The portrait of a Louisiana family trying to revive their late father’s sugar cane business will return for a fifth season next year.

Candler penned and directed features “Cicadas,” “Jumping Off Bridges,” and “Hellion.” She’s also helmed episodes of “Being Mary Jane,” “Sorry for Your Loss,” and “13 Reasons Why,” among other projects.

“Cherish the Day,” DuVernay’s forthcoming OWN romantic anthology, is expected to debut in winter 2020 and recently confirmed it has reached full gender parity. She’s also directing and exec producing a pilot based on DC’s “DMZ” comics for HBO Max. Set in the not-so-distant future, it focuses on a female medic working during an American civil war.

DuVernay’s other credits include Exonerated Five miniseries “When They See Us,” “13th,” “Selma,” and “A Wrinkle in Time.” She became the first woman of color to direct a $100 million-plus film with the latter.


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