Starz has announced that its upcoming comedy series, Run the World, has kicked off production in Harlem and throughout New York City.

The eight-episode, half-hour series is created by Leigh Davenport, who will executive producer with showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser. It is a Lionsgate Television production.

The logline: Run the World is the story of a group of Black women – vibrant, fiercely loyal best friends – who work, live and play in Harlem as they strive for world domination. At its core, it’s an unapologetically female show about enviable friendship and not only surviving – but thriving together.

The series stars Amber Stevens West, Andrea Bordeaux, Breshha Webb and Corbin Reed as its core four cast members. Tosin Morohunfola and Stephen Bishop are also series regulars. With the production start announcement, it was revealed that Living Single star Erika Alexander, Nick Sagar and Jay Walker will recur in the series, and Tonya Pinkins will be a guest star.

“Run the World is a love letter to Black women and a love letter to Harlem, that I hope inspires young, ambitious Black women to feel powerful, desirable and free,” said Davenport. “I created this series to celebrate the amazing women in my life and to illuminate the special bonds we built living in Harlem, while pursuing our post-collegiate dreams.”

“I’m genuinely excited to be producing such a joyous, authentic and complex depiction of Black women on screen,” said Bowser. “Our series will no doubt entertain and embolden more of us to live our truest and fullest lives.”

“Run the World is the latest STARZ series that illustrates the network’s commitment to spotlighting diverse voices and stories that reflect a full spectrum of women both in front of and behind the camera,” said Christina Davis, President of Programming for Starz. “Leigh Davenport and Yvette Lee Bowser are creating a bold and authentic scripted series that focuses on four strong and confident Black women who are smart, successful and loyal who live and thrive in Harlem – which is as much of a major character as any of the other characters in the series.”

“We’re excited to safely start production on the next empowering series from our incredible partner Yvette Lee Bowser,” said Lionsgate Television Chairman Kevin Beggs. “We have a very talented cast and a great production team to bring Leigh Davenport and Yvette’s vision to the screen and to our friends at STARZ.”

Directors for the series include Millicent Shelton (pilot director0, Justin Tipping, Jenée Lamarque and Nastran Dibai.

Photo: Getty/Starz

Corbin Reed

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