The series - which is envisioned as an anthology series focusing on different women of the Civil Rights Movement each season - will focus on Mamie Till Mobley, who devoted her life to seeking justice for her son Emmett Till following his brutal killing in the Jim Crow South.
Marissa Jo Cerar is writing the season based on the novel Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Rovement by Devery S. Anderson. She will executive produce with Jay-Z, Will Smith, Jay Brown, Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith, James Lassiter, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, Michael Lohmann, Rosanna Grace, Alex Foster, John Powers Middleton, David Clark and director Gina Prince-Bythewood. Kapital Entertainment, Roc Nation, Westbrook Entertainment, Serendipity Film Group and The Middleton Media Group will produce.
"Today marks 65 years since the tragic murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till," said Karey Burke, President, ABC Entertainment. "This limited series will shine a light on the determined pursuit of justice by Emmett's mother, Mamie Till Mobley. Their story involves inconceivable heartbreak and brutality but also the enduring love of a mother and her son, galvanizing a movement that carved the path for today's racial justice movement. We are honored to be bringing their story to ABC backed by an all-star producing team."
"I am thrilled to bring this project to television," added Cerar. "It is unfortunately very timely, and my hope is to give the audience a chance to learn who Emmett Till really was - the boy, rather than the victim or the martyr - while also showcasing Mamie's astonishing strength in the face of a mother's worst nightmare. Telling Emmett and Mamie's story is a responsibility I have not taken lightly since I began this journey last year, because this is more than a tragedy; it's a story about a mother's unwavering love of her son and her commitment to bettering the lives of all Black people. I can't wait to start filming. With the brilliant Gina Prince-Bythewood as our director, we could not be in better hands."
"The story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till is not one I want to tell. It is a story I need to tell," said Prince-Bythewood. "I am grateful to be on this journey with incredible collaborators who are determined to honor this mother and son with truth, authenticity and humanity."
