The Gates, a daytime soap opera featuring a predominantly Black cast, iwill debut on CBS in 2025, according to Variety.
Initial reports of the series surfaced in March, emerging from development within CBS Studios’ collaboration with the NAACP. According to the outlet, the forthcoming series will showcase the lives of an affluent Black family living in an exclusive “gated community.”
The Hollywood Reporter cited that the CBS-NAACP-produced soap opera will make history upon its debut, becoming the first soap opera in 35 years to feature an all-Black cast since 1989’s Generations.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said CBS Studios President Sheila Ducksworth in a statement.
“This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines, and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture.”
Ducksworth added, “I’m excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring.”
Legendary TV writer Michele Val Jean, the mastermind behind more than 2,000 episodes of daytime soap opera classics like The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital, will work alongside CBS and the NAACP to executive produce and write for the forthcoming show.
Variety reported that The Gates is slated to debut in January 2025, though an exact date is unclear.
