In 2016, Moonlight told the story of a young Black boy growing up in Miami in a way we’d never seen portrayed before. But Tarell Alvin McCraney, author of the unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue upon which the film was based, isn’t done telling Black boys stories. In fact, he’s just getting started.
Last night, everyone from Oprah Winfrey, to Ava DuVernay, and Michael B. Jordan came out to celebrate the upcoming premiere of McCraney’s new series, David Makes Man, which follows the life of 14-year-old David as he struggles to make the hard choices that will lead to his success while battling the dangers and peer pressure of life in the projects of Miami. Winfrey and Jordan serve as Executive Producers of the film alongside McCraney who grew up in Liberty City, FL.
There was a palpable feeling of excitement on the red carpet at NeueHouse Hollywood in LA for the premiere screening of episode 1 of the show which airs next Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Winfrey herself even said she declared, “That was the best pitch I ever heard in my life,” when she first met McCraney.
“He painted such a beautiful visual interpretation of how he wanted to tell the story that when he finished I just went whoooaaa. Okay ‘den. Alright Tarell Mcraney, you just did that bruh, really!”
Click through to see all the actors and actresses who who are starring in the new series and who came out to support McCraney and what this show represents for Black boys and men.
Oprah Winfrey, CEO of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and executive producer of “David Makes Man”
Tarell Alvin McCraney, creator and executive producer, at the “David Makes Man”
Michael B. Jordan, executive producer, at the “David Makes Man”
Ava DuVernay, creator and executive producer of OWN’s “Queen Sugar”
Akili McDowell who plays the show’s lead character David
Alana Arenas who plays David’s mother Gloria
Isaiah Johnson who plays Sky
Travis Coles who plays Mx. Elijah
Nathaniel Logan McIntyre who plays Seren
Ade Chike Torbert who plays “Raynan
Cayden Williams who plays JG
Akili, Ava DuVernay, Oprah, and Tarell McCraney
Oprah and Tarell
The show’s youngest stars Nathaniel, Teshi Thomas, Akili, and LindsayBlackwell