Oprah Winfrey adapting The New York Times' The 1619 Project for TV and film

The Hollywood Reporter

The New York Times Magazine's 2019 landmark interactive project re-examining the legacy of slavery to mark the 400th anniversary of the first African slaves' arrival in Virginia is getting the TV and movie treatment. New York Times staff writer Nikole Hannah-Jones, who won a Pulitzer Prize in May overseeing The 1619 Project, is teaming with Oprah and Lionsgate to develop multiple feature films, TV series, documentaries and other cross-platform content for a global audience based on her project. The 1619 Project will seek out Black creative voices to chronicle the historical legacy and economics of slavery in America and the enduring contributions of African-Americans with stories of Black resistance and resilience. "We took very seriously our duty to find TV and film partners that would respect and honor the work and mission of The 1619 Project, that understood our vision and deep moral obligation to doing justice to these stories," Hannah-Jones said in a statement. "Through every step of the process, Lionsgate and its leadership have shown themselves to be that partner and it is a dream to be able to produce this work with Ms. Oprah Winfrey, a trailblazer and beacon to so many Black journalists." Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer added that "for many Americans, The 1619 Project was a great awakening and a true history that you probably never learned in school. For others, the project was a fresh analysis of the historical record by one of the world’s leading media authorities."