The book will be developed under Orji’s first-look deal.
By Hope Ibiale
Nigerian-American comedian, actress, writer, and producer, Yvonne Orji, is set to develop Ghanaian-American writer, Yaa Gyasi’s novel, Transcendent Kingdom for Sony Pictures Television. The book will be developed under Orji’s first-look deal. This comes after Orji signed a two-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television. Under the deal, she will develop scripted drama and comedy series for streaming and cable.
Transcendent Kingdom tells the story of a Ghanaian-American scientist, Gifty, who attempts to understand her family’s problems through science. Her brother died after a heroin overdose and her suicidal mother doesn’t leave her bed. As Gifty seeks scientific answers, the church’s offerings of salvation also hold the promise of unravelling all of Gifty’s problems. Gyasi’s sophomore novel explores family, faith, love, science, and religion.
Yaa Gyasi was born in Mampong, Ghana, and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. Her debut novel, Homegoing received 2017’s American Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award, and PEN’s Hemingway Award for debut fiction. Her short stories have appeared in African American Review, Guernica, Callaloo, and Granta.
Yvonne Orji is an Emmy-nominated, Nigerian-American comedian, actor, writer, author, and producer, who is well known for starring alongside Issa Rae in the HBO comedy series Insecure. The date for the commencement of Transcendent Kingdom and its release has not been announced yet.