Onyx Collective and Channel 4 placed a direct order for “Queenie” by Candice Carty-Williams. The eight-episode series will be available on Channel 4 in the UK and Republic of Ireland and will stream exclusively on Hulu in the US, Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories.
“Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in South London, straddling two cultures and fitting neatly into neither. After a messy breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Queenie seeks solace in all the wrong places and begins to realize she must face the past head-on before she can rebuild,” the logline reads. The series is based on the Carty-Williams bestseller.
Dionne Brown will lead the cast as Queenie. She is joined by Samuel Adewunmi as Frank and Bellah as Kyazike.
According to their description, Queenie is a 25-year-old, curvy, beautiful South Londoner, who speaks her mind – especially when she shouldn’t. Queenie comes from a Jamaican family and strives to excel in a predominantly white workplace. She is constantly trying to catch up with her emotions and the situations she finds herself in due to an entrenched habit of self-sabotage, which she is mostly unaware of. As soon as she stops to think, whatever she’s running from hits her, and it’s the worst emotional build-up imaginable.
Brown will next be seen as DC regular Chloe Summers in “Criminal Record,” alongside Cush Jumbo and Peter Capaldi for Apple TV. Before that, she appeared in “The Walk-In” for ITV directed by Paul Andrew Williams. She is represented by Christina Shepherd and Luke Reilly at The Artists Partnership.
Frank van Adewunmi is described as Kyazike’s older cousin, a man with his own van and big plans in life. He is from Ends, is involved in his community and has known Queenie since high school. He has occasionally seen her with Kyazike over the years, though not since she interacted with Tom. Frank is emotionally intelligent, well-read and articulate – an intellectual match for Queenie. He thinks and speaks from the heart and challenges Queenie. He is her truth-teller, straightforward and unapologetic, but with a good heart.
This year, the BAFTA nominee will star in Marvel Studios’ “Secret Invasion” on Disney+ alongside Olivia Colman, Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn in 2023. He is represented by Kate Buckley at age 42, as well as Brandt Joel and Elan Ruspoli at WME.
Kyazike is Queenie’s longest-serving best friend from school. Born with Ugandan ancestry, she grew up in South London and is also 25 years old. She works at a bank where she can compare eligible men with their bank balances. She always has the longest hair, the best nails, the highest designer heels and the funniest stories. Kyazike is determined to find Mr. Right, who must have financial strength. While Queenie doesn’t find her friend’s quest ambitious, she certainly finds it inspiring.
Bellah is a singer-songwriter from North London. She has been officially recognized as a “one to watch” by British Vogue, BBC Radio 1Xtra and Capital Xtra, among others. She is represented by Anna Tune at Independent and Sonitus Management.
“Queenie” was created and executive produced by Candice Carty-Williams, who will also serve as showrunner. Furthermore, South’s Steve November and Sarah Conroy will also executive produce, with Lisa Walters serving as co-executive producer and series producer. The show comes from Further South productions in association with Lionsgate TV.