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Sterling K. Brown, Winston Duke, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph are in talks to star in a limited series based on The Trees, a 2022 novel by Percival Everett. Deadline reports that the series is being developed by Universal Content Productions (UCP), with writer Marcus Gardley set to script the show and serve as executive producer.
A bidding war has reportedly broken out between platforms for the adaptation.The series promises a big-budget retelling that blends mystery, history, and crime. Brown and Duke are expected to take the lead roles, though character details haven’t been confirmed.
The novel’s plot begins with a series of enigmatic murders in Money, Mississippi, and then broadens to reveal a larger, darker national trend. This new series will reunite Brown with executive producer Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, following their past collaboration on the adaptation of Washington Black.
Gardley’s momentum continues following his recent co-writing credit on The Color Purple. Everett’s The Trees has been widely praised, earning a shortlist spot for the 2022 Booker Prize and winning the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.
What is The Trees about?
Percival Everett’s The Trees is a murder mystery rooted in the history of American racial violence. The novel starts in Money, Mississippi, when a string of brutal killings draws the attention of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Two Black detectives arrive in town to investigate the murders. What they find is deeply unsettling — at each crime scene, there is a second unidentified body that appears to resemble Emmett Till. Till was a 14-year-old Black boy whose lynching in Mississippi in 1955 became a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
As the detectives dig deeper, the killings appear to be more than isolated events. The pattern repeats across the country, hinting at a nationwide wave of retribution. They eventually encounter a local root doctor who has been tracking lynching cases for decades, revealing a long-hidden legacy of violence.
Who all are going to be in the series?
Deadline reports that Marcus Gardley is scripting the adaptation and will also executive produce the limited series. His previous work includes The Chi, Maid, and Foundation, and he co-wrote the 2023 film adaptation of The Color Purple.
Sterling K. Brown and Winston Duke are in talks to play the lead detectives, although this has not been officially confirmed. Brown is also producing the series through his company, Indian Meadows, along with Abby Victor. He is an Emmy-winning actor known for This Is Us and The People v. O.J. Simpson, and recently starred in Hulu’s Paradise.
Duke is perhaps best recognized as M’Baku in Black Panther and has also appeared in Us, The Fall Guy, and Nine Days.
Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also in talks to join the project. Randolph recently appeared in The Holdovers and Only Murders in the Building.
Production is being handled by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. Selwyn Seyfu Hinds and Katie Zucker will executive produce through Mad Massive Entertainment, along with Everett.
Background on the source material
The Trees was released in 2021 (U.S. release date) and quickly became one of the most talked-about books of the year. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize and received the 2022 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.
The novel blends fiction with historical allusion to examine the ongoing legacy of racism in America. Its fast-paced and layered storytelling made it a top candidate for screen adaptation.
Percival Everett is represented by CAA and the Melanie Jackson Agency.
Where will The Trees broadcast?
There has not yet been an official announcement regarding the network or streaming platform for The Trees. Deadline reports that the adaptation has sparked a bidding war, with several companies vying for the rights. Given the high-profile cast and acclaim of the novel, the series is expected to land on a major streaming service or premium cable network.
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