OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today it has renewed for a fourth season Ava DuVernayโs critically acclaimed original drama series โQueen Sugar,โ from Warner Horizon Scripted Television, ahead of the extended 90-minute season three finale airing Wednesday, August 22 (10-11:30 p.m. ET/PT).
In addition, โQueen Sugarโ co-executive producer Anthony Sparks will take the reigns as showrunner/executive producer for season four, continuing DuVernayโs intention of providing showrunner opportunities to those who have never before held the position.
โUnder Avaโs creative vision and leadership, โQueen Sugarโ continues to earn a well-deserved reputation for depicting nuanced characters, rich storylines and establishing an inclusive team that inspires and ignites much needed conversations about our society today,โ said Erik Logan, president, OWN. โWe are very proud of this show, the incredible cast, producers and crew, and canโt wait for more of the Bordelon family in season four.โ
In the seriesโ expanded 90-minute season three finale on Wednesday, August 22 (10-11:30 p.m. ET/PT), Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) receives some unexpected news, the fate of the correctional facility is revealed, and Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) makes a proposal on behalf of the farmers. Plus, Violet (Tina Lifford) and Hollywood (Omar J. Dorsey) celebrate their love.ย The series also stars Nicholas Ashe, Dondrรฉ T. Whitfield, Bianca Lawson and Henry G. Sanders. Timon Kyle Durrett guest stars.
โQueen Sugarโย was named Television Show of the Year from both American Black Film Festival (ABFF Honors) and African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) for the secondย consecutive year and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Drama Series. Chronicling the lives and loves of the Bordelon siblings in Louisiana,ย the series premiered its third season May 29 delivering overย two million viewers and on average ranksย #1 in its time period across all cableย in the networkโs key women 25-54 demo (L+3). It is also Wednesday nightโs #1 original series across all of broadcast and cable for African-American women and total viewers and is consistently one of the most talked-about shows on social media.
Following a creative initiative established at the seriesโ outset, DuVernay assembled an all-female directing team that will continue in the new season.
โQueenย Sugarโ season three is produced for OWN by Warner Horizon Scripted Television. The executive producers are Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, Kat Candler and Paul Garnes. Kat Candler is showrunner. The series is based on the book by Natalie Baszile.
About Anthony Sparks
Fostering a space of inclusion, Anthony Sparks has been a key component in the โQueen Sugarโ writersโ room from the series inception. Sparks television writing credits include โUndercovers,โ โLincoln Heights,โ โThe District,โ โThe Blacklist,โ and he has been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards along with receiving two writing awards from the Norman Lear Center. Previously, Sparks was a former cast member of Broadway hit ‘Stomp.โ He holds three degrees from USC (BFA, MA, and Ph.D.), where he studied Theatre, Film, Anthropology, and American History. While at USC he received the Jack Nicholson Award and the Anna Bing Arnold Doctoral Fellowship. One of his plays, “Ghetto Punch,” has been performed at several venues across the country.
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