Critically Acclaimed Indie Film is Being Adapted Into a Series

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Dear White People,

You’re coming to Netflix.

The Internet TV network announced yesterday, that they will be adapting Justin Simien’s critically acclaimed 2014 satire into a series. Simien will write the series and direct the premiere episode.

Released in 2014, Dear White People took place at a predominantly white Ivy League college where a set of diverse Black students struggled to find their own individual identity while also dealing with racial tensions that are often swept under the rug. The film – which Simien financed with his tax refund and through crowd funding – was a hit on the festival circuit and won The U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. For Simien, a chance to expand on the themes presented in the film is a dream come true. ‘During the film’s release, I had the pleasure to speak with hundreds of students and faculty across a variety of college campuses dealing with these very issues in real time’, Simien said in a statement. ‘I’m so grateful to have this platform – not only to give a voice to those too often unheard in our culture, but to also tell great stories from new points of views. From day one, Lionsgate has been remarkably supportive of the vision for the show, and working with Netflix is every bit as harmonious as I’d imagined it would be. Bringing this show to such a vibrant platform is an honor I don’t take lightly.’

Lionsgate, whose sister company Roadside Attractions released the original film in 2014, will handle the production. Devon Shepard (House of Lies, Weeds), Stephanie Allain Bray (Hustle & Flow, Dear White People) and Julia Lebedev (The Dinner, Dear White People) serve as executive producers. The 10-episode, 30-minute series will go into production later this year and will premiere on Netflix in 2017.

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Earl Douglas

Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.
Earl Douglas
Earl Douglas
Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.