Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil are joining forces with OWN. The wife-and-husband team are working on “Love Is ___,” a new hourlong series for Oprah Winfrey’s TV network, The Hollywood Reporter writes. The pair have previously collaborated on shows like “Being Mary Jane,” “The Game,” and “Girlfriends,” all of which were created by Brock Akil. This new project “will draw inspiration from their real-life relationship to tell the love story of a modern-day power couple,” THR reports.
Both Akils are credited as creators and will executive produce the series through their Akil Productions banner. Brock Akil will take on showrunning duties.
“I’ve dreamed of working with the Akils. I’ve been a huge fan of their work since first viewing ‘Girlfriends,’” said Winfrey. “They know just how to hit the cultural nerve to make you think and laugh at the same time.”
Brock Akil added, “To have a partner that brings the attention to detail and sheer excellence that Oprah has built an empire on is an absolute dream come true for Salim and me. That, and it’s Oprah! ‘Love Is ___’ is not only a passion project, but is a personal one for us as well. We’re grateful to have her wholehearted support and magic touch behind this story.”
Scheduled to premiere on OWN in 2018, “Love Is ___” is produced in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television. The Akils signed a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. TV that went into effect last year.
“I still love talking about women and the contemporary journey of women,” Brock Akil said of the WB venture. “I still love talking about women of color. There are places I didn’t get to go with ‘Being Mary Jane.’ Those things still live in me,” she explained. “The past years have been me getting out what I wanna say about black women. I’m really excited that this deal will be more inclusive of [Salim’s] voice and what he wants to say about black men. No one’s really heard his voice yet.”