How will you become a hero? Naomi McDuffie is learning about her own heroism in the series “Naomi.” Ava DuVernay leads the project, another DC property under her ARRAY Filmworks banner. The multi-hyphenate partners with Jill Blankenship to create the series. Blankenship comes to the project with writing as well as executive producing credits on both “Arrow” and “The Last Ship.” The first episode also sees “Echo Park” director Amanda Marsalis helm.
The project finds its lead in Kaci Walfall — an actress with appearances on “The Equalizer” and “Power.” Walfall not only has a background in TV, but Broadway. She’s joined by Barry Watson and Mouzam Makkar — the pair play Naomi’s adoptive parents. Both Watson and Makkar have a TV background to pull from as they support Walfall. Watson appeared on “7th Heaven” while Makkar’s appearances include a run on the critically acclaimed “Exorcist” series.
The series’ official synopsis:
From Oscar® nominee/Emmy® winner Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship (“Arrow”), and starring Kaci Walfall (“Army Wives,” “Power,” “The Lion King” on Broadway) in the title role, the DC drama NAOMI follows the journey of a cool, confident, comic book–loving teenager as she pursues her hidden destiny. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown of Port Oswego to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, with a little help from her fiercely loyal best friend Annabelle (Mary-Charles Jones, “Kevin Can Wait”).
She also has the support of her adoptive, doting parents, veteran military officer Greg (Barry Watson, “7th Heaven,” “The Loudest Voice”), and linguistics teacher Jennifer (Mouzam Makkar, “The Fix”). After an encounter with Zumbado (Cranston Johnson, “Filthy Rich”), the mysterious owner of a used car lot, leaves her shaken, Naomi turns to tattoo parlor owner Dee (Alexander Wraith, “Orange Is the New Black”), who becomes her reluctant mentor.
While unfolding the mystery about herself, Naomi also effortlessly navigates her high school friendships with kids on the military base as well as well as local townies, including ex-boyfriend and high school jock Nathan (Daniel Puig); Annabelle’s longtime, loyal boyfriend Jacob (Aidan Gemme); proud “townie” Anthony (Will Meyers, “Bad Education”); and fellow comic book enthusiast Lourdes (Camila Moreno), who works in a vintage collectible shop. As Naomi journeys to the heights of the Multiverse in search of answers, what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes.
“Naomi” is an ARRAY Filmworks production in association with Warner Bros. Television. The CW series is scheduled for a midseason debut. Watch the project’s first trailer below.
