Yaa Gyasi’s novel Transcendent Kingdom has been optioned for TV by Sony Pictures Television, with the talented Yvonne Orji as the producer. Collaborations like this between African creatives are truly exciting!
Yvonne Orji, a Nigerian-American actress and comedian, gained prominence for her role in the TV series Insecure (2016–2021), earning nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and three NAACP Image Awards. Last year, Orji signed a two-year, first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television, where she’ll develop scripted drama and comedy series for streaming and cable. The Transcendent Series is one of her ventures within this deal, as reported by Deadline.
Orji expressed her enthusiasm on Instagram, stating:
“AFRICA TO THE WORLD!!! Been chasing this story for 4 solid years and will continue to ride hard for it ‘til it’s on your television screens WORLD WIDE!! You can BANK ON IT! Shout out to @sptv for believing in the vision from JUMP (no hesitation!) and much love to #yaagyasi for trusting me with one of her babies. Naija and Ghana Jollof CAN be united for the greater good. Look at Gaawd! And to execs and networks—please don’t sleep on African stories. They are worthy to be told. They are worthy to be INVESTED in. And there IS a GLOBAL audience for them. BANK ON US!”
Transcendent Kingdom delves into the struggles of a Ghanaian immigrant family grappling with depression, addiction, and the delicate balance between faith and science. Gifty, a sixth-year PhD candidate in neuroscience at Stanford, studies reward-seeking behavior in mice and investigates the neural circuits of depression and addiction. Her brother Nana, a gifted high school athlete, tragically succumbs to a heroin overdose after becoming addicted to OxyContin due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, their suicidal mother resides in her bed. Gifty is determined to uncover the scientific underpinnings of the suffering she witnesses, even as she turns toward her childhood faith and the evangelical church.
Yaa Gyasi, the Ghanaian-American novelist behind this powerful work, previously received accolades for her debut novel Homegoing (2016). Her achievements include the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award for Best First Book, the PEN/Hemingway Award for a first book of fiction, the National Book Foundation’s “5 under 35” honors, and the American Book Award. In 2020, she was honored with the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Literature.
Congratulations to both Gyasi and Orji on the exciting journey ahead with the upcoming TV show!