Hill 5.14, the black female-led scripted label founded by Tobi Olujinmi, has optioned the romance book collection ‘The New Haven Series’ for TV series adaptation.
This is the first set of books optioned by Hill 5.14 since it was launched in 2022 by Olujinmi, a creative producer and former development producer.
Hill 5.14, which entered into a tripartite First Look collaboration with Sony Pictures Television (“SPT”) and Eleventh Hour Films in 2024, is developing the series in collaboration with SPT and a yet-to-be-announced UK broadcaster.
The interconnected novels follow the romantic relationships of deeply intertwined couples over the course of 12 years as they fight to regain love, sexual control, and healing amongst a complex web of cultural, societal and family expectations. When a woman is sexually assaulted and it feels like her identity has changed forever, can she move past that shame to accept love and trust again? When a woman’s university love and husband dies in their mid-twenties and after 4 years she begins to have feelings for his best friend; will she allow herself to go there or does that break every rule in the book? When the man you loved and finally trusted ghosts you for 6 years only to return after the death of your brother, will you let him back into your life when he says he has done the healing work he needed? He is still fine as hell, but has he been healed within?
The book series is set in the fictional town of New Haven, South Carolina, but the series is currently being developed to transfer the setting to the UK. The series is being adapted by Phoebe Okeowo (The Power).
Tobi Olujinmi, Founder and Executive Producer, Hill 5.14, says “The moment we read Revive Me and Restore Me, we knew that this was a Hill 5.14 story, we just had to find a way to bring them to screen. The books are equals parts raw and beautiful. Sexy, fun and fresh! Janil, through these beautiful characters, explores healing throughout, powerfully depicting what love looks like after trauma, healthy sex after violation and we are excited to bring happy endings back to television”.
J.L. Seegars, Author, says, “Excited doesn’t even begin to capture how I feel about working with Tobi Olujinmi and the rest of the Hill 5.14 team to bring these sexy, dynamic, and often heartbreaking, stories to the screen. From our first meeting, Tobi and Phoebe’s love for my characters and their world has been evident, and I have every confidence that passion will translate to the finished product”.
Seegars is represented by Sugar23 and Laura Dail Literary Agency.
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