Per ABC, the six-episode project will focus on Mamie Till Mobley, who devoted her life to seeking justice for her son Emmett Till following his brutal murder in the Jim Crow South, and is inspired by the book “Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement” by Devery S. Anderson. Gina Prince-Bythewood, the acclaimed director behind “The Old Guard,” “Love & Basketball,” and “Shots Fired,” is slated to direct the first episode of the limited series. “Women of the Movement” is created by Marissa Jo Cerar (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “13 Reasons Why,” “Shots Fired”), who will also serve as a writer and showrunner.

“The story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till is not one I want to tell.  It is a story I need to tell,” said Gina Prince-Bythewood. “I am grateful to be on this journey with incredible collaborators who are determined to honor this mother and son with truth, authenticity and humanity.” Related How to Watch ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ with Ryan Seacrest Tailored Stuntwork on ‘The Woman King’ Turned Each Character Into a Warrior Related 17 HBO and HBO Max Original Series to Get Excited About in 2023 Nightmare Film Shoots: The Most Grueling Films Ever Made, from ‘Deliverance’ to ‘Mad Max’ to ‘Avatar 2’
“Women of the Movement” is produced by Kapital Entertainment, Jay-Z, Jay Brown and Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith. The series will be executive produced by Will Smith, James Lassiter, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor Michael Lohmann, Jo Cerar, Prince-Bythewood; Rosanna Grace, Alex Foster, John Powers Middleton, and David Clark. “I am thrilled to bring this project to television. It is unfortunately very timely, and my hope is to give the audience a chance to learn who Emmett Till really was – the boy, rather than the victim or the martyr — while also showcasing Mamie’s astonishing strength in the face of a mother’s worst nightmare,” Jo Cerar said in a statement. “Telling Emmett and Mamie’s story is a responsibility I have not taken lightly since I began this journey last year, because this is more than a tragedy; it’s a story about a mother’s unwavering love of her son and her commitment to bettering the lives of all Black people. I can’t wait to start filming. With the brilliant Gina Prince-Bythewood as our director, we could not be in better hands.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.