Octavia Butler novel’s Kindred is the latest project from the iconic writer to be being adapted for TV. The series is currently being developed at FX.
Originally published in 1979, Butler’s novel Kindred follows protagonist Dana as she finds herself time traveling between her present in Los Angeles to a pre-Civil War Maryland plantation where her ancestors were enslaved. Inspired by slave narratives but true to the science-fiction that Butler is known for, Kindred is a genre-bending story that explores themes surrounding slavery, interracial relationships, generational trauma, feminism, and much more.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a critically acclaimed playwright and producer for HBO’s Watchmen, will serve as showrunner and writer for the upcoming series. Kindred will also feature Mallori Johnson as Dana, alongside Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Micah Stock, Ryan Kwanten, Gayle Rankin, Austin Smith, David Alexander Kaplan. Janicza Bravo, director and co-writer of Zola, directed and executive produced the pilot episode.
FX is the latest network to take on a project based on Butler’s work. A24 has plans to turn Parable of the Sower into a movie and Amazon is working with Ava DuVernay on a television version of Dawn.
