NBC has ordered the unscripted series “Home Sweet Home,” which comes from Ava DuVernay.
In the 10-hour-long series of episodes, two families who lead very different lives go through a total immersion cultural experiment. The show chronicles walking a mile in someone else’s shoes challenging racial, religious, economic, geographic, gender, and identity assumptions as participants swap homes for a week and experience the life of someone other than themselves.
“The idea of ’Home Sweet Home’ occurred to me during the strange and important moments we are all experiencing,” said DuVernay. “The premise is that we are more separated than ever, but subject to what we have in common: concerns with health, safety, justice and the community. These notions are manifested in each of us in different ways, but nowhere more striking than in the privacy of our own homes. I am delighted that NBC and Warner Horizon embraced the challenge of this moment to celebrate the specificity of our differences as we discover the many beautiful things we have in common. “
DuVernay created the series and will be an executive producer through ARRAY Filmworks. Sarah Bremner and Paul Garnes of ARRAY will also be executive producers. Warner Horizon’s unscripted television will produce. DuVernay is currently in general agreement with Warner Bros. Television Group.
“We are honored to partner with Ava for the first time to bring ‘Home Sweet Home’ to life on NBC,” said Meredith Ahr, president of NBC Entertainment’s Reality and Alternative Group. “Led by Ava’s powerful and hopeful creative vision, these stories will reveal genuine moments of change that we hope will spark stimulating conversations and foster compassion, empathy and understanding.”
The show marks a continued expansion on television for DuVernay. She is currently executive producing the OWN dramas “Cherish the Day” and “Queen Sugar”, which she created. Her other television credits include the Emmy-winning Netflix limited series “When They See Us” and “The Red Line” for CBS. On the horizon, she recently created a series on Netflix about Colin Kaepernick’s high school years.
“Ava is an extremely gifted and thoughtful narrator,” said Mike Darnell, president of Warner Bros. Unscripted and Alternative Television. “This life-changing journey promises to be a rich experience that offers families the opportunity to see life through a new lens.”
DuVernay previously directed, produced and co-wrote the documentary “13th” for Netflix. She examined racial inequality in the United States penitentiary system and mass incarceration. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature in 2017. She is currently working on another documentary for the serpentine about Nipsey Hussle. Her other film credits include the Oscar-winning civil rights drama “Selma” and the film adaptation of “A Wrinkle in Time”.
She is represented by CAA and Del Shaw Moonves.
