Barry Jenkins Set To Direct Amazon Series Based On ‘Underground Railroad’ Novel
Following the epic success of Moonlight both in the box office and on the awards circuit. The biggest question would be what’s next for those involved? Director Barry Jenkins in particular?
Deadline reports that Jenkins will be partnering with Plan B productions to bring Colson Whitehead’s best-selling novel, The Underground Railroad, to Amazon as a series. The novel tells the story of a young woman named Cora who escapes from a Georgia plantation only to find that the Underground Railroad isn’t actually a metaphor but an actual train that travels underground.
“Going back to The Intuitionist, Colson’s writing has always defied convention, and The Underground Railroad is no different,” said Jenkins. “It’s a groundbreaking work that pays respect to our nation’s history while using the form to explore it in a thoughtful and original way. Preserving the sweep and grandeur of a story like this requires bold, innovative thinking and in Amazon we’ve found a partner whose reverence for storytelling and freeness of form is wholly in line with our vision.”
Seeing two celebrated black creators come together to tell an exceptional black story will surely help the series gain enough buzz. Hopefully the finished product will continue to bring them success and audiences wonderful stories.