Ava DuVernay Signs Blockbuster $100 Million Deal To Bring More Content To TV And Streaming Services

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to put even more respect on Ava DuVernay’s name! After becoming the first Black woman to win a dramatic U.S. Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival, the first Black woman to be nominated for a Best Directing Golden Globe, and the first woman of color to helm a $100 million film, now, the Queen Sugar creator just inked a blockbuster deal to bring even more content to TV. According to Deadline, DuVernay signed a multi-year and multi-genre overall deal with Warner Bros. worth upwards of $100 million. The collaboration will reportedly allow DuVernay to create everything from comedy and drama series, to documentaries and digital content for broadcast, cable, and streaming services. DuVernay — whose series Queen Sugar and the forthcoming Red Line are already produced by Warner Bros. — praised the studio for its commitment to “inclusive image-making.” “Warner Bros. is a terrific partner about matters of visibility and belonging for all kinds and cultures of people, which is our mission at Forward Movement,” DuVernay told Deadline. “I couldn’t be happier to call Warner Bros. TV my production home.” DuVernay isn’t the only Black creator to secure the bag and sign a massive deal this year. Power creator Courtney A. Kemp signed a multi-year partnership with Lionsgate, while Black-ish creator Kenya Barris and mega-producer Shonda Rhimes both negotiated huge deals with streaming giant Netflix.