Jean Smart To Produce Confederate Flag Drama Series In Works At Max With Kristen SaBerre Set To Write & EP
EXCLUSIVE: The true story of John Hawkins, the first Black cheerleader at Ole Miss, who refused to carry a Confederate flag onto the football field in the 1980s, is the basis of a drama series in development at Max, Deadline has learned.
The Untitled John Hawkins Project will be written and executive produced by Kristen SaBerre (The Good Lord Bird, Knightfall) and produced by Jean Smart and Angeliki Giannakopoulos at Smart’s SmartAngel Entertainment. Hawkins will serve as co-executive producer and consultant.
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Hawkins discussed his historic decision to not carry the flag in a 2020 interview with Jackson, Mississippi television station WLBT.
”I was not going to carry that flag,” Hawkins said. “I understood what it represented. I understood that for some students, for some people who embraced the flag that it was the symbol of school spirit for them. I also knew that there were other motives, in terms of people that supported the flag that were more consistent with the original intent which was an oppressive symbol representing slavery and I did not want to be a part of that; I do not want to be associated with that and was thankful that the university supported me in my efforts to say no, with respect to that, and of course subsequently proceeded to disassociate itself with that flag.”
SaBerre most recently developed a series adaptation of the bestselling suspense novel Pretty Little Wife at Amazon Studios, alongside Meredith Lavender and Marcie Ulin, with Gabrielle Union attached to star and executive produce. She previously served as a co-executive producer on the 4400 revival for The CW. SaBerre is repped by Paradigm, Grandview, and Miles Metcoff at Morris Yorn.
Smart is a five-time Emmy winner, including back-to-back Lead Actress in a Comedy Series trophies for her role as Deborah Vance on Max’s Hacks, which is heading into its fourth season. On the film side, Smart was most recently seen in drama Wildflower, alongside Kiernan Shipka, Alexandra Daddario and Dash Mihok, and in Damien Chazelle’s Babylon. She is repped by WME and Untitled Entertainment.
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