Disney’s Onyx Collective Picks Up Their First Scripted Comedy Series “Unprisoned”

Onyx Collective announced today that it has picked up Unprisoned as its first scripted comedy series, coming from creator Tracy McMillan.

Kerry Washington and Tracy McMillan

What’s Happening:

  • Inspired by McMillan’s life, Unprisoned is a half-hour comedy about a messy but perfectionist relationship therapist and single mom whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son.
  • Star and executive producer Kerry Washington (Scandal) plays Paige Alexander, a marriage and family therapist and mom to 16-year-old Finn.
  • The eight-episode series is produced by ABC Signature and will be streamed exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories.
  • Washington will produce along with executive producer Pilar Savone through their Simpson Street production company.

Delroy Lindo

  • Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods) executive produces and stars as Edwin Alexander, Paige’s father, who has recently been released from prison.
  • Creator Tracy McMillan (Marvel’s Runaways) serves as executive producer.
  • Yvette Lee Bowser (Dear White People) serves as executive producer and showrunner.
  • Joy Gorman Wettels (13 Reasons Why) will executive produce with Anonymous Content. Jen Braeden (Love, Victor) is also an executive producer.

What They’re Saying:

  • Tara Duncan, president of Onyx Collective and Freeform said: “From the moment we read the script for Unprisoned, we wanted this fresh, funny series for Onyx. Tracy tells the story of an endearing but complicated father-daughter relationship with the heart and humor of someone who has lived this all too common experience. We’re thrilled to continue our creative collaboration with Kerry Washington and the teams at Simpson Street and ABC Signature.”
  • Kerry Washington, executive producer and star, said: “From the moment Tracy McMillan brought this project to Simpson Street, we knew that it had the potential to be provocative, groundbreaking and life-affirming. I love this show. I love these characters and the stories that they’ve inspired. And I’m so honored to work with this extraordinarily talented group of partners.”
  • Creator Tracy McMillan said: “This isn’t just my story, it’s the story of millions of people dealing with the effects of mass incarceration on their families, hearts, minds and bodies — and as writers, we wanted to come to these flawed but super-lovable characters from the place of empathy, humor and soul that they deserve.”
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