NY Times' '1619 Project' Will Be Adapted for Big Screen

The New York Times’ “1619 Project” will soon be adapted for television and film, The Root reports.

A new deal between Lionsgate, Oprah Winfrey and The New York Times will turn the controversial series that discusses American history through a lens of slavery, into the premise for films, television series and documentaries.

Lionsgate will serve as the studio and Winfrey will work as producer, according to the deal. New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the 1619 Project, will serve as the creative leader and producer on the new endeavor.

“We took very seriously our duty to find TV and film partners that would respect and honor the work and mission of ‘The 1619 Project,’ that understood our vision and deep moral obligation to doing justice to these stories,” Nikole Hannah-Jones said in a statement to The Root.

Hannah-Jones called Oprah Winfrey “a trailblazer and beacon to so many Black journalists.” 

“I am excited for this opportunity to extend the breadth and reach of ‘The 1619 Project’ and to introduce these stories of Black resistance and resilience to even more American households,” she said.

Winfrey tweeted: “When the #1619Project came out almost a year ago, I stood in tearful applause for the profound offering that it was giving our culture and nation. Today, I am honored to be a part of @nhannahjones’ vision to bring her transformative work to a global audience. Stay tuned, y’all!”

“The 1619 Project” was published in the New York Times Magazine last year. The series claims that the U.S. was actually founded in 1619, the year slaves were brought to colonies from Africa.

Many historians ripped the series for its claims that the Revolutionary War was actually fought to preserve slavery. One historian, who was consulted on the series, called out factual inaccuracies in the central essay.

• 1619 Project Ignores Mountains of Relevant Facts
• Newt Gingrich Slams NY Times 1619 Slavery Project as a 'Lie'