The upcoming soapy, multigenerational family drama at OWN, Ambitions, has cast its main players.
Robin Givens, Essence Atkins, Brian White, Kendrick Cross, Brely Evans and Erica Page have been tapped for roles, and Kevin Arkadie has been made the showrunner. Benny Boom will direct the pilot.
The series, created by Jamey Giddens from an original idea from Will Packer, is a multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having relocated recently and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head-to-head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city.
Givens will lead the cast as Stephanie Carlisle, the wife of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (White), whose true loyalty is to her family’s prestigious law firm where she is the latest in a long line of distinguished lawyers. Stephanie desperately wants to be in charge of the Carlisle family law firm and quietly fumes about her father Stephen’s condescending assertion that she’s not ready yet.
Atkins will play Amara, a lawyer in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who has newly arrived in Atlanta with her husband, Titus (Cross). Originally from Texas, she is quickly gaining attention as a diligent prosecutor but disappoints her supervisor by turning down the offer to run point on a major local case.
White has been cast as Evan Lancaster the Mayor of Atlanta, who is married to attorney Stephanie Carlisle (Givens). Evan’s political ambitions seem to cloud his judgment as he is willing to do anything to get to the next level in his career.
Cross will play Titus, an attorney who recently moved with his wife Amara (Atkins) to Atlanta. Titus has been hired as in-house counsel for a big pharma company run by Hunter Purifoy, who is fighting a class-action suit brought by the powerful Carlisle family.
Evans plays the role of Rondell, Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster’s (White) sister, who runs a not-quite-profitable restaurant called Thelma’s Place.
Page plays the role of Bella, a fashion designer in Atlanta who designs all of Stephanie Carlisle’s (Givens) dresses.
Giddens, the show’s creator, is an executive producer and writer. He is the co-owner of the popular soap opera website Daytime Confidential and wrote on the Urban Movie Channel’s The Rich and the Ruthless starring Victoria Rowell.
Givens currently recurs on Riverdale and will also recur on the upcoming ABC series The Fix. Atkins currently stars in NBC’s Marlon.
Ambitions is produced for OWN by Will Packer Media in association with Lionsgate and its producer-distributor Debmar-Mercury. Will Packer is also executive producer with Arkadie, Giddens and Will Packer Media’s Sheila Ducksworth.
