Universal TV develops "Good People" series from Natalie Baszile's "Friends and Family"
Universal Television is developing "Good People", a drama based on Natalie Baszile's novel "Friends and Family", with Marissa Jo Cerar writing, Gina Prince-Bythewood set to direct a potential pilot and Mary J. Blige among the executive producers.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Universal Television is developing a drama series titled "Good People", based on "Friends and Family", the second novel by "Queen Sugar" author Natalie Baszile. DeadlineN “Universal Television is developing Good People, a drama series based on Friends and Family, the second novel by Queen Sugar author Natalie Baszile.” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “The TV version is currently titled “Good People.”” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Marissa Jo Cerar, whose credits include "Black Cake", is attached to write the adaptation and executive produce. Gina Prince-Bythewood is set to direct a potential pilot. DeadlineN “Marissa Jo Cerar (Black Cake) will write the adaptation, with Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Old Guard) set to direct the potential pilot” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “Marissa Jo Cerar (“13 Reasons Why,” “Black Cake”) is attached to write and executive produce the adaptation.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Mary J. Blige (via Blue Butterfly Productions), Debra Martin Chase (Martin Chase Productions), Reggie Rock Bythewood and Prince-Bythewood (both via Undisputed Cinema) and Baszile are also executive producers, with Universal Television as the studio. DeadlineN “Cerar and Baszile executive produce alongside Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood of Undisputed Cinema, Debra Martin Chase for Martin Chase Productions, and Mary J. Blige via Blue Butterfly Productions.” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “Baszile is also attached to executive produce. Universal Television is the studio.” Read at Variety ↗
Centre · 1Deadline reports that Universal Television won the rights in a competitive situation before the book's Oct. 6 release, and that the project is expected to be taken out to buyers soon. The project falls under Martin Chase Productions' first-look deal with Universal Television. DeadlineN “Universal Television landed the rights to Friends and Family in a competitive situation ahead of the book’s Oct. 6 release.”“The project is expected to be taken out to buyers soon.”“The project falls under Chase’s Martin Chase Productions’ first-look deal with Universal Television.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2According to the logline, the story is set in Northern California and follows Babs, a successful self-made interior designer, and her old-money best friend Nora. An affair and a police confrontation involving Nora's adopted Black son disrupt the stability of both families. Deadline adds that the story is loosely based on real events from Baszile's life. VarietyLC “Set in Northern California, the story follows Babs, a successful self-made interior designer, and her old money best friend, Nora.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “Set in Northern California, the story is loosely based on real events from Baszile’s life.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Baszile's earlier novel "Queen Sugar" (2014) was adapted into an OWN series that aired for seven seasons. Deadline says that series was created and executive produced by Ava DuVernay and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, and Variety notes that "Good People" would be the second series based on a Baszile book if it goes forward. VarietyLC “Her novel “Queen Sugar” was previously adapted into the series of the same name, which aired for seven seasons on OWN.”“Should the project go forward, it would be the second series based on one of Baszile’s books.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “created/executive produced by Ava DuVernay and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey.” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2The project is at the development stage, and no network or streaming platform has been announced. VarietyLC “Universal Television is developing a series take on the Natalie Baszile novel “Friends and Family,” Variety has learned.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “The project is expected to be taken out to buyers soon.” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Variety presents a short scoop-style trade report, framed conditionally ("Should the project go forward") and tied to Baszile's earlier hit "Queen Sugar".
- Emphasis
- The Queen Sugar link, the logline, the producers' other credits (A Different World sequel renewed at Netflix, Children of Blood and Bone) and talent representation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the competitive rights deal, the Oct. 6 book release, the plan to take the project to buyers, or the real-life basis of the story.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline reports the deal as a straightforward industry announcement, with a headline naming all the main talent.
- Emphasis
- Deal mechanics (competitive rights sale before publication, first-look deal, shopping to buyers), long creative biographies, and a publisher's praise of the book.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the logline wording as such, or that the series would be the second Baszile adaptation (it does note the Queen Sugar OWN series).
- For example
-
“Universal Television landed the rights to Friends and Family in a competitive situation ahead of the book’s Oct. 6 release.” — Deadline
““The way she created a narrative about best friendship to be the lens through which to examine loyalty, allyship, class, and the inner lives of women of a certain age was brilliant,”” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Universal Television is developing a series called "Good People" based on Natalie Baszile's "Friends and Family".
- Marissa Jo Cerar is attached to write, and Gina Prince-Bythewood is set to direct the pilot.
- Mary J. Blige, Debra Martin Chase, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Prince-Bythewood and Baszile are executive producers.
- The story is set in Northern California and follows Babs and Nora.
Natalie Baszile person
Baszile is the novel's author and is attached as an executive producer. Her earlier novel "Queen Sugar" became an OWN series, and Deadline says the new book is loosely based on real events from her life.
“Baszile is also attached to executive produce.” — Variety
“Set in Northern California, the story is loosely based on real events from Baszile’s life.” — Deadline
Left1 article
-
Neutral Concise exclusive-style report that stresses the Queen Sugar connection and the logline, with a conditional note that the project may not proceed.
Centre1 article
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Neutral Detailed trade report on the deal, rights competition and creative team, including the publisher's praise of the novel.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 29 Oct 16:00 First VarietyLC ‘Queen Sugar’ Author to Develop Novel ‘Friends and Family’ Into Series With UTV, Mary J. Blige, Gina Prince-Bythewood
- 29 Oct 16:00 First DeadlineN ‘Friends and Family’ Novel By ‘Queen Sugar’ Author Gets Series Adaptation At Universal TV From Mary J. Blige, Marissa Jo Cerar & Gina Prince-Bythewood
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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