Sony Pictures Television has obtained the rights to ‘Transcendent Kingdom,’ a novel by Ghanaian-American author Yaa Gyasi, for a television adaptation. Under her First Look Deal with Sony, producer Yvonne Orji will lead the development of the series.
‘Transcendent Kingdom’ explores the journey of Gifty, a neuroscientist studying depression and addiction in mice. The narrative oscillates between her present in the Bay Area and her past as a first-generation Ghanaian growing up in Alabama.
Gifty seeks to understand the suffering she has witnessed through both scientific inquiry and a spiritual exploration of her childhood faith. Despite her scientific approach, she yearns for the comfort of her evangelical upbringing and grapples with the elusive nature of salvation.
Orji, an Emmy-nominated Nigerian-American multihyphenate, rose to prominence for her portrayal of ‘Molly’ in HBO’s ‘Insecure.’ She signed a two-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television last year, enabling her to create scripted drama and comedy series for streaming and cable platforms.
Orji’s recent filmography includes ‘The Blackening,’ a horror-comedy, and ‘Vacation Friends 2,’ the sequel to Hulu’s ‘Vacation Friends.’ She has also appeared in Malcolm D. Lee’s ‘Night School,’ voiced characters in Netflix’s ‘My Dad the Bounty Hunter,’ and served as host and executive producer of HBO Max’s ‘My Mom Your Dad.’
Gyasi’s literary prowess was recognized in her debut novel, ‘Homegoing,’ which garnered prestigious accolades such as the American Book Award, the John Leonard Award, and the PEN/Hemingway Award for debut fiction.
