Onyx Collective

Last updated

Onyx Collective
Onyx Collective logo.png
TypeBrand on Hulu
CountryUnited States
Ownership
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Parent Disney Entertainment
Key peopleTara Duncan (President)
History
LaunchedMay 17, 2021;2 years ago (2021-05-17)
Links
Website www.dgepress.com/onyxcollective

Onyx Collective is a content brand owned and operated by Disney Entertainment, which primarily consists of projects from creators of color and other underrepresented groups. The brand was first launched on May 17, 2021, with several projects under development for Hulu and Disney+. [1] [2]

Contents

Onyx Collective is currently led by Tara Duncan, who also served as the president of sister-network Freeform before shifting focus solely towards Onyx. [3]

History

In April 2021, Walt Disney Television chairman Dana Walden first mentioned the existence of a new BIPOC-focused programming initiative at Disney's General Entertainment Content division and Hulu. [4] Following the official launch of the brand on May 17, 2021, Onyx announced a number of upcoming projects produced by notable black creators including Questlove, Oprah Winfrey, and Prentice Penny. [5] Their first content acquisition, Summer of Soul , received a limited theatrical release in partnership with Searchlight Pictures on June 25, 2021, to critical acclaim before being released on Hulu the following weekend. [6]

In September 2021, Onyx Collective and Hulu greenlit the legal drama Reasonable Doubt for a series order, marking the first scripted series from the brand. [7]

Programming

Comedy

TitleGenrePremiereSeasonsLengthStatus
Unprisoned [8] ComedyMarch 10, 2023 [9] 1 season, 8 episodes [10] 30 min. [11] Renewed [12]
Awaiting release
How To Die Alone [13] ComedyTBA1 season, 8 episodes [14] 30 min. [15] Pending

Drama

TitleGenrePremiereSeasonsLengthStatus
Reasonable Doubt [7] [16] Legal drama September 27, 2022 [17] 1 season, 9 episodes46–55 min.Renewed [18]
The Other Black Girl [19] Mystery thriller September 13, 2023 [20] 1 season, 10 episodes [20] TBAPending

Documentaries

TitleProduction partnerPremiereRuntime
Summer of Soul Searchlight Pictures July 2, 20211 hour, 57 min.
Aftershock ABC News July 19, 20221 hour, 26 min.
Anthem This Machine Filmworks June 28, 20231 hour, 37 min.

Docuseries

TitleProduction partnerPremiereSeasonsLengthStatus
The Hair Tales OWN October 22, 2022 [21] 1 season, 6 episodes41 min.Pending
The 1619 Project [22] Lionsgate January 26, 20236 episodes [23] 55–61 min.Miniseries
Searching for Soul Food [24] All3Media June 2, 20238 episodes23-27 min.Pending
Awaiting release
Ring of Fire: The Life of Annie Mae Aquash [24] TBATBATBATBAPending

Feature films

TitleGenreRelease dateRuntime
Bruiser Drama February 24, 2023 [25] 1 h 41 min

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References

  1. White, Peter (May 17, 2021). "Disney Sets Onyx Collective, Content Brand For Creators Of Color On Hulu, Led By Freeform Boss Tara Duncan". Deadline. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  2. Nunan, Tom. "Disney Makes Strong Diversity Investment: Launches 'Onyx Collective'". Forbes. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  3. Rose, Lacey (February 28, 2023). "Disney's Dana Walden Reorganizes Senior Team: John Landgraf, Simran Sethi Elevated". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  4. Gardner, Chris (April 14, 2021). "Dana Walden Says ABC Passed on Pilots for Not Being Inclusive Enough". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  5. Murphy, Chris (July 7, 2022). "Oprah, Questlove, Kerry Washington—And the Executive They All Trust". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  6. Jackson, Angelique (February 5, 2021). "Questlove's 'Summer of Soul' Breaks 'Boys State's' $12M Sundance Doc Sales Record in Searchlight/Hulu Acquisition". Variety. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (September 29, 2021). "Onyx Collective's 'Reasonable Doubt' Gets Hulu Series Order; Emayatzy Corinealdi To Star, Kerry Washington To Direct". Deadline. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  8. Rice, Lynette (May 13, 2022). "Onyx Collective Picks Up 'Unprisoned' With Kerry Washington & Delroy Lindo; Comedy Will Stream On Hulu, Star+ & Disney+". Deadline Hollywood .
  9. Rice, Lynette (January 14, 2023). "'Unprisoned' Showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser Says TV "Absolutely Making Progress" With Black Stories". Deadline Hollywood .
  10. Rice, Lynette (May 13, 2022). "Onyx Collective Picks Up 'Unprisoned' With Kerry Washington & Delroy Lindo; Comedy Will Stream On Hulu, Star+ & Disney+". Deadline Hollywood .
  11. Rice, Lynette (May 13, 2022). "Onyx Collective Picks Up 'Unprisoned' With Kerry Washington & Delroy Lindo; Comedy Will Stream On Hulu, Star+ & Disney+". Deadline Hollywood .
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (November 20, 2023). "Onyx's UnPrisoned Renewed For Season 2 On Hulu; Kerry Washington Re-Ups Over Deal With ABC Signature". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  13. White, Peter (November 17, 2022). "Natasha Rothwell Comedy Series 'How To Die Alone' Scores Series Order From Onyx Collective At Hulu". Deadline Hollywood .
  14. White, Peter (November 17, 2022). "Natasha Rothwell Comedy Series 'How To Die Alone' Scores Series Order From Onyx Collective At Hulu". Deadline Hollywood .
  15. White, Peter (November 17, 2022). "Natasha Rothwell Comedy Series 'How To Die Alone' Scores Series Order From Onyx Collective At Hulu". Deadline Hollywood .
  16. Andreeva, Nellie (July 20, 2021). "'Reasonable Doubt' Legal Drama Via Onyx Collective on Hulu Opens Writers Room For Series Consideration". Deadline Hollywood .
  17. Humphrey, Julia (July 6, 2022). "'Reasonable Doubt' Gets Release Date and First Look Featurette From Director Kerry Washington". Collider. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  18. Cordero, Rosy (April 17, 2023). "Morris Chestnut Boards Onyx Collective's 'Reasonable Doubt' As Hulu Series Lands Season 2 Renewal". Deadline. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  19. Rice, Lynette (August 4, 2022). "Hulu Gives Series Order To 'The Other Black Girl' From Onyx Collective". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "First Look and Date Announcement: Hulu Original "The Other Black Girl"" (Press release). Hulu. July 18, 2023. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023 via The Futon Critic.
  21. "Disney's Onyx Collective Presents Upcoming Original Series and Greenlights Three Unscripted Series During the Summer 2022 TCA Press Tour" (Press release). The Onyx Collective. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022 via The Futon Critic.
  22. Rosario, Alexandra Del (April 1, 2021). "'The 1619 Project' Docuseries From Lionsgate, Oprah Winfrey & Pulitzer Prize Winner Nikole Hannah-Jones Lands At Hulu". Deadline. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  23. Jackson, Angelique (January 26, 2023). "Nikole Hannah-Jones Reflects on the Importance of 'The 1619 Project' as Hulu Docuseries Launches: 'This Is the Work of My Life'". Variety Media, LLC. Penske Media Corporation (PMC) . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  24. 1 2 White, Peter (August 4, 2022). "Swizz Beatz Car Show, Alisa Reynolds Cooking Series & Annie Mae Aquash True-Crime Docuseries Lead Onyx Non-Scripted Slate". Deadline. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  25. "Breaking News - Disney's Onyx Collective Announces Feature Film "Bruiser," Premiering Friday, Feb. 24, on Hulu | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.