The four-part project marks the first show to come from Warner Horizon Unscripted TV’s new documentary series unit.
Greg Berlanti and Jim Parsons are teaming for an LGBTQ-focused docuseries set up at HBO Max.
Titled Equal, the four-part project chronicles the landmark events and forgotten heroes of the LGBTQ+ movement. Each hourlong episode brings to life the stakes and deadlines of historical events that have not yet been given their due. The series will feature high-end re-enactments and never-before-seen footage and will capture the emotions of the times with messages just as relevant as today, according to HBO Max.
LGBTQ+ pioneers to be featured in the series include Harry Hay, the Daughters of Bilitis, Christine Jorgensen and Bayard Rustin. The fourth episode will chronicle the Stonewall Riots from start to finish as well as the first Pride event, held the year after Stonewall.
Equal hails from Warner Horizon Unscripted TV’s new documentary unit. Berlanti and Parsons — who each have overall deals with Warner Horizon parent Warner Bros. TV — will executive produce via their respective production companies, Berlanti Productions and That’s Wonderful Productions. Mike Darnell, president of unscripted and alternative at Warner Bros., will oversee alongside Brooke Karzen. Scout Productions’ David Collins, Michael Williams (The Fog of War), Rob Eric (Queer Eye) and Joel Chiodi will exec produce, as will Berlanti Productions topper Sarah Schechter. Parsons’ husband and That’s Wonderful partner Todd Spiewak and Raintree Ventures’ Jon Jashni (Lost in Space) will also exec produce.
Equal is Berlanti’s latest effort for HBO Max — and second with a castmember from The Big Bang Theory. It joins the Kaley Cuoco-fronted scripted drama The Flight Attendant on the TV side and a slate of four YA-focused feature films. HBO Max, which is set to launch in the spring, will be the exclusive (domestic) streaming home to the entire 12-season run of Big Bang Theory.
For Parsons, Equal becomes the actor’s latest producing project and joins Netflix’s shortform comedy Special and CBS’ Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon. His next acting roles are two Ryan Murphy-produced Netflix projects: the TV movie The Boys in the Band (based on the Broadway show in which he starred) and the scripted series Hollywood.
For HBO Max, meanwhile, Equal is the streaming platform’s latest docuseries and joins the Ellen DeGeneres-produced Finding Einstein.
All told, Equal is Berlanti’s 20th show in the works and first unscripted series. He currently has business at four of the five broadcast networks as well as the streamers DC Universe, HBO Max and Netflix.
Source: Hollywoodreporter.com