“Sula” Limited Series in Development at HBO Max

HBO Max has announced the development of Sula, a limited series based on the novel of the same name by Toni Morrison. The series will be written by Shannon M. Houston, writer for Station Eleven on HBO Max, and produced by Homegrown Pictures (Juanita) under Stephanie Allain and Gabrielle Ebron.

The inspiration behind Sula on HBO Max was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and published in 1973. Simply titled Sula, the novel – described as “an unforgettable portrait of what it means and costs to be a black woman in America” – follows two best friends, Sula Peace and Nel Wright, as they grow up in the small town of Medallion, Ohio; specifically, in a section of town called The Bottom. As they grow, the two girls promise to share everything, and this bond is tested as Nel marries and chooses to start a family while Sula goes to college away from her hometown. Sula and Nel’s divergent paths form a rift between the two childhood friends. The rift is only made worse as Nel and Sula’s lives grow more complicated as they age, constantly haunted by their childhood memories and a traumatic mystery.

Sula and HBO Max: What We Know So Far

Sula on HBO Max will be written and executive-produced by Shannon M. Houston. Houston’s prior projects include working on Homecoming (2018) on Amazon, The Looming Tower (2018), Little Fires Everywhere (2020) on Hulu, Station Eleven (2021) on HBO Max, and Lovecraft Country (2020) on HBO. Sula will also be produced under Homegrown Pictures with creative director Gabrielle Ebron and founder Stephanie Allain, who reportedly made history in 2020 by being the first black woman to produce the Academy Awards. According to Deadline, Homegrown Pictures “is dedicated to creating content by and about women and people of color with authentic stories, depictions, and representation.”

Any further information on the Sula limited series, including cast information and a release date, is unknown.