Peacock has given a series order to “Before I Let Go,” based on the Kennedy Ryan novel of the same name.
Ryan and Malcolm D. Lee (“The Best Man” franchise, “Girls Trip”) created the series and co-wrote the pilot. Attica Locke (“From Scratch,” “When They See Us”) and Tembi Locke (“From Scratch”) are onboard as writers, executive producers, and showrunners. Ryan and Lee are also executive producers, as are Dominique Telson of Lee’s Blackmaled production banner, Mike Jackson and John Legend of Get Lifted Film Co., and Debra Martin Chase of Martin Chase Productions. Universal Global Television and Universal Television will produce. Blackmaled and the Lockes have a first-look deal at UTV, while Martin Chase Productions has an overall deal.
The logline for the show states, “Their love was supposed to last forever, but when life dealt Yasmen and Josiah Wade back-to-back devastating blows, they realized love can’t solve everything. The life they created fell apart — divorce and shared custody followed. Now, Yasmen is finally starting to find joy, but proximity to Josiah keeps the embers hot despite reopening old wounds. They are beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had. Is it too late to find forever? Or could the second time around be even better?”
“Before I Let Go” is the first of Ryan’s Skyland novel series. She has also published the books “This Could Be Us” and “Can’t Get Enough” in the series.
“From the time I read Kennedy Ryan’s ‘Skyland’ series, I was fully engaged in the lives of these characters and invested in their outcomes,” Lee said. “Adapting the pilot with her has been an absolute treasure to experience and we plan on bringing all the feels to her fans and her new TV family. To be able to pass the baton to Attica and Tembi Locke is an absolute dream for this powerhouse team. Can’t wait to get started.”
“Getting the chance to bring the ‘Skyland’ series to life onscreen is a dream come true. I’m excited about what this remarkable team is creating,” Ryan said. “Co-writing the pilot with Malcolm D. Lee and now imagining this world with Attica and Tembi is more than I even knew to ask for. These characters have meant so much to so many readers, and none of this would be possible without the people who have supported my work for years. I’m incredibly grateful and excited to find a new audience for these books that have changed my life.”
Attica Locke is repped by UTA, 3 Arts and Myman Greenspan. Tembi Locke is repped by UTA, 3 Arts, and Yorn Levine. Ryan is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, BookEnds Literary Agency, and Granderson Des Rochers. Lee and Blackmaled are repped by IAG and Del Shaw Moonves. Get Lifted is repped by UTA and Del Shaw Moonves. Martin Chase is repped by CAA and Del Shaw Moonves.
“We could not be more thrilled to bring Kennedy Ryan’s ‘Skyland’ series to life,” the Lockes said. “We love and feel uniquely suited to bring books about love, family and healing to screen. To do the work with the incredible team on ‘Before I Let Go’ is a dream.”
“We could not be more excited to bring Kennedy Ryan’s beloved novel ‘Before I Let Go’ to the screen,” Legend and Jackson said. “Kennedy has created a deeply moving, honest and beautifully layered story about love, loss, family and the possibility of finding your way back to one another. We’re incredibly proud of the powerful script Kennedy and Malcolm D. Lee have written, and we’re thrilled to have Attica and Tembi Locke guiding the series as showrunners. Their extraordinary storytelling, emotional intelligence and deep understanding of these characters make them the perfect creative partners to bring this world to life. We’re also honored to produce the series alongside the incomparable Debra Martin Chase, whose trailblazing career and commitment to telling powerful, culturally resonant stories continue to inspire us.”