Oprah Winfrey to produce megachurch TV drama that tackles pastoral deception

'Greenleaf' executive producer Oprah Winfrey says the show is ‘going to be a fun ride and will hopefully have viewers on the edge of their pews week after week.’ (Wikimedia)

Oprah Winfrey will be producing a new television drama called "Greenleaf," which is based on the lives of the family of a megachurch pastor in Memphis, Tennessee.

"Lost" alum Craig Wright, who also produced "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Tyrant," will be writing the scripts for the show's 13 episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"To tell this potentially explosive story with Oprah, a partner who has as much respect and affection for the church as I do, whose entire body of work is infused with what I would call a faith-based humanism, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a blessing, even," said Wright.

"When I first read the script, I instantly felt an affinity for the characters and loved Craig's creative vision for a fictional drama on an epic scale," added Winfrey. "This show is going to be a fun ride and will hopefully have viewers on the edge of their pews week after week."

The show will centre on the lives of the members of the Greenleaf family whose head is in charge of the Memphis megachurch with predominantly African-American members. They might be considered as the community's pillars of religious righteousness, but they still struggle with greed, adultery, sibling rivalry, conflicting values, and many other sins.

The series has been described as a "multi-generational matrix of deception that involves the church's founding family and extends to its congregation, prominent members of the Memphis community and beyond. Yet, amid the mayhem and deception, the power of something greater persists, calling everyone to conscience for their sins."

It will be the Oprah Winfrey Network's (OWN) second original scripted series that is not written by Tyler Perry, who is the brains behind other OWN shows such as "The Haves and the Have Nots," "If Loving You Is Wrong," "Love Thy Neighbor," and "For Better or Worse."

related articles
Oprah talks about Selma film: We never expected to be at the Oscars
Oprah talks about Selma film: We never expected to be at the Oscars

Oprah talks about Selma film: We never expected to be at the Oscars

Oprah Winfrey says she was transformed by Sunday school\'s words: \'You are God\'s child\'
Oprah Winfrey says she was transformed by Sunday school's words: 'You are God's child'

Oprah Winfrey says she was transformed by Sunday school's words: 'You are God's child'

News
Young people more grateful to God, study finds
Young people more grateful to God, study finds

A new survey has suggested that 18 to 34 year olds are more likely to believe in God and have transcendental experiences.

Nigerian government accused of being in denial about persecution of Christians
Nigerian government accused of being in denial about persecution of Christians

How can thousands of slain Christians not be persecution?

Turkey arrested 115 suspected ISIS members, thwarting Christmas and New Year plots against non-Muslims
Turkey arrested 115 suspected ISIS members, thwarting Christmas and New Year plots against non-Muslims

Turkey has been relatively successful in preventing attacks since 2017.

The pope that is remembered each year on December 31
The pope that is remembered each year on December 31

In many European countries, December 31, also known as New Year’s Eve, is better known as St Sylvester’s Day or simply Sylvester, named after a pope from the time of the Council of Nicaea. This is the story …