Hulu lands The 1619 Project docuseries from producer Oprah Winfrey

The Hollywood Reporter

The New York Times Magazine's landmark 2019 interactive project re-examining the legacy of slavery to mark the 400th anniversary of the first African slaves' arrival in Virginia is getting the docuseries treatment on Hulu. Nikole Hannah-Jones, who oversaw the project and won a Pulitzer Prize for her introductory essay, will produce the docuseries along with Winfrey and Roger Ross Williams, an Oscar winner for best documentary. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, "the special issue also stirred historical debate as it argued for the consequences of slavery dating back to 1619 and the contributions of Black Americans over four centuries to be put at the center of American history." Williams said in a statement: "The 1619 Project is an essential reframing of American history. Our most cherished ideals and achievements cannot be understood without acknowledging both systemic racism and the contributions of Black Americans. And this isn’t just about the past—Black people are still fighting against both the legacy of this racism and its current incarnation. I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to work with The New York Times, Lionsgate Television, Harpo Films and Hulu to translate the incredibly important The 1619 Project into a documentary series." Hannah-Jones added: "I could not ask for a more gifted and committed storyteller to entrust The 1619 Project to than Roger Ross Williams. I have long admired the impact and authenticity of his filmmaking, and the fact that we’re working with Disney and Hulu aligns with our vision of partnering with the world’s greatest Black storytellers to bring this project to a global audience."