The Gates is an upcoming American television soap opera created by Michele Val Jean. The series is the first daytime television soap opera to feature an African-American cast since Generations in 1989 and the first new daytime soap to debut on a major broadcast network since Passions in 1999. It will center around the Jacksons, a wealthy African-American family in the gated community of Fairmont Estates.
The Gates | |
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Genre | Soap opera |
Created by | Michele Val Jean |
Written by | Michele Val Jean |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Production locations | |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
It is scheduled to debut on CBS, as part of their daytime programming block, in January 2025 replacing the canceled talk show The Talk.[1]
Premise
editThe Gates will tell "the story of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community."[2] This family—known as the Jacksons—will reside in Fairmont Estates, located in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area.[3][unreliable source?]
Characters
editAll series regular roles were revealed in August 2024, via TV Insider.[4]
- Patrick, a retired Senator, described as "gentle, humble, and generous", husband of Betty, holding a family secret
- Elizabeth, a paralegal, engaged to Joseph following an extra martial affair
- Marcus, a congressman following in his grandfather's footsteps, married to Daniel, have two adopted children together, desires to be first Black openly gay President
- Sam, a plastic surgeon at Garland Memorial Medical Center in Washington, D.C., runs and operates their own private practice with friend Lester Fine
- Stacy, owns a real estate agency which specializes in luxury properties
- Courtney, a charmingly intense woman whose late husband has passed
- Jillian, resides in Washington D.C, is the daughter of Sara, sister of Cheryl, granddaughter of Betty, married to David a police officer
- Diane, described as a bit of a mystery, with "two faces"
- Luis, a personal trainer at the Fairmont Estates Country Club, who has his eye on one of the married women who live in The Gates
Other roles suggested to be cast, as revealed by a report by Soap Hub.[3]
- Jessica, a psychiatrist at Garland Memorial Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
- Betty, famous singer turned a family matriarch, mother of two daughters, married to Patrick
- Sara Jackson, full-time mother and housewife, Jackson family wild child and Joseph's ex-wife
- Joseph, Sara's ex-husband and a criminal defense attorney
Production
editOn February 23, 2024, it was reported Michele Val Jean would be leaving the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful after 12 years.[5] The following month, it announced that Val Jean was developing a new daytime soap opera that would follow the lives of a wealthy Black family.[6] It will be produced by a joint venture of CBS Studios and the NAACP, along with Procter & Gamble Studios. Val Jean will serve as writer and show runner, and will also executive produce alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.[7][8] On March 15, 2024, it was reported that the series was under "Accelerated Development".[9] On April 15 of the same year, it was reported CBS ordered The Gates to series for debut in January 2025.[10][11][12]
The Gates will be the first daytime television soap opera to feature an African-American cast in 35 years since short-lived Generations (1989–1991).[10] It will also be the first new daytime soap opera in 25 years to debut on an American broadcast television network since the debut of Passions in 1999, as well as the first daytime soap opera to be produced by Procter & Gamble Studios since the end of both Guiding Light and As the World Turns in 2009 and 2010, respectively.[13][14]
In July 2024, it was reported soap opera writing and production veterans Robert Guza Jr. and Julie Hanan Carruthers had joined the serial as executive producers, alongside Val Jean.[15] Taping will begin November 4 of the same year in Atlanta, Georgia.[2] Skyy Sandifer, credited for her work as a script coordinator on Ambitions was announced as a writer's assistant for the serial the following month.[16] The names and descriptions of nine series regular roles to-be cast were revealed by TV Insider on August 15, 2024, with note all actors "must" reside in Atlanta.[4] Four days later, it was revealed The Gates would film at Assembly Studios.[17]
References
edit- ^ Rice, Lynette (April 15, 2024). "CBS Orders 'The Gates' To Series; Daytime Sudser That Centers On A Black Family To Debut In January". Deadline. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Lewis, Errol (July 31, 2024). "REPORT: Bob Guza and Julie Carruthers Named Executive Producers of The Gates". Soap Opera Network. United States. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Maloney, Michael (July 31, 2024). "The Gates Is Coming! Get to Know the Characters and Creative Geniuses". Soap Hub. United States. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Maloney, Michael (August 15, 2024). "Meet the Characters of CBS' New Daytime Soap The Gates". TV Insider. United States: Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Errol (February 23, 2024). "Daytime Emmy Award-Winning Writer Michele Val Jean Exits 'The Bold and the Beautiful'". Soap Opera Network.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (March 6, 2024). "CBS, NAACP to Develop New Daytime Soap Opera 'The Gates' With 'Bold and the Beautiful' Writer".
- ^ Rice, Lynette (March 6, 2024). "CBS Studios NAACP Venture To Develop New Daytime Drama For CBS Called 'The Gates'".
- ^ "CBS Orders New Daytime Drama About Black Family Under Groundbreaking Content Partnership With NAACP". Essence. April 24, 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Errol (March 15, 2024). "'The Gates' Is Under "Accelerated Development" at CBS, Likely As A One-Hour Daytime Drama". Soap Opera Network.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (April 15, 2024). "CBS Greenlights the First Black Daytime Soap Opera in 35 Years". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (April 15, 2024). "CBS Orders Daytime Soap Opera 'The Gates' Under NAACP Content Partnership".
- ^ Caruso, Nick (April 15, 2024). "New Daytime Soap The Gates Officially Ordered at CBS — When Will It Premiere?".
- ^ Boyle, Kelli (March 6, 2024). "CBS Making New Soap Opera About Wealthy Black Family". TV Insider.
- ^ Lewis, Errol (March 8, 2024). "'The Gates' Showrunner and Executive Producer Michele Val Jean Speaks Out". Soap Opera Network.
- ^ Fairman, Michael (July 31, 2024). "Bob Guza and Julie Hanan Carruthers Named Executive Producers of The Gates Joining Michele Val Jean". Michael Fairman TV. United States: The Michael Fairman Company. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Errol (August 1, 2024). "Ambitions Writer Skyy Sandifer Joins The Gates". Soap Opera Network. United States. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Ho, Rodney. "The Gates, the first new soap opera in 25 years, will shoot in Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. United States: Cox Enterprises. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.