Oprah Winfrey Stars in ‘Greenleaf’ Scripted Series

Greenleaf TV Series
Merle Dandridge and Keith David in ‘Greenleaf’ (Photo Courtesy of OWN)

Oprah Winfrey is returning to scripted series television with a role in Lionsgate Television’s Greenleaf, a new dramatic series airing on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The series will kick off its 13 episode season one with a two-night event on May, 24, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT and May 25th at 10pm. Greenleaf is written and produced by Craig Wright (Six Feet Under, Lost).


In addition to Winfrey, Greenleaf will star Merle Dandridge, Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Desiree Ross, Kim Hawthorne, Deborah Joy Winans, and Gregory Alan Williams.

The Greenleaf Plot:

Greenleaf centers on the journey of estranged daughter and disillusioned preacher Grace Greenleaf (Dandridge) who has returned home after 20 years on the occasion of the mysterious death of her sister, Faith. As she reenters the world of Calvary Fellowship World Ministries, the Memphis megachurch run by her powerful parents Bishop James Greenleaf (David) and Lady Mae Greenleaf (Whitfield), it becomes evident that things are not as virtuous as they seem and that the family’s outward display of faith hides sin and misdeeds.

In the season premiere, directed by Clement Virgo (Book of Negroes), Grace and her teenage daughter Sophia (Ross) are warmly welcomed home by Grace’s father, Bishop James Greenleaf, but tensions quickly rise soon thereafter at a family dinner in the Greenleaf mansion. Grace’s mother is cold and hostile; her sister-in-law Kerissa (Hawthorne) questions her about her faith; and sister Charity (Winans) erupts with jealousy at the suggestion that Grace might preach at Calvary.

Later, blues club owner and Grace’s aunt Mavis (Winfrey) discuss the circumstances of Faith’s death and Mavis reveals some shocking information about Grace’s uncle “Mac” (Williams). Mavis is still estranged from the Greenleaf family and it starts to become evident that she intends to use Grace to sow the seeds of its destruction.