CBS’s new daytime soap opera “Beyond the Gates” is set to premiere on February 24, marking a historic moment in television. It will be the first soap opera to debut on a major network since 1999 and the first to focus entirely on a Black family. The show is the brainchild of Sheila Ducksworth, who has had a passion for soap operas since her college days at Yale.
She grew up watching soaps and was particularly captivated by “Generations,” the first soap to highlight a Black family from its inception. “Beyond the Gates” is set in an affluent Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C., and centers on the Dupree family, described as “a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty.” The show promises to uncover juicy secrets and scandals behind the pristine walls and lush gardens of the gated community. The cast includes veteran actors such as Tamara Tunie, known for her roles in “As the World Turns” and “Law & Order: SVU,” who plays family matriarch Anita Dupree.
Clifton Davis of “Madam Secretary” portrays Anita’s husband, retired senator Vernon Dupree.
soap opera focuses on Black family
Karla Mosley and Daphnee Duplaix play their daughters, Dani and Dr.
Nicole Dupree Richardson, respectively. Mosley teases the explosive drama to come, particularly surrounding her character Dani, whom she describes as a “loose cannon.” A highlight from the show’s trailer features Dani dramatically sweeping clear a desk with a golf club, hinting at the intense storylines viewers can expect. The show also boasts an exciting guest appearance by Karen Huger from “Real Housewives of Potomac” in the pilot episode, adding to the authenticity of the world the show inhabits.
“Beyond the Gates” is the creation of Michele Val Jean, a veteran soap opera writer with credits including “B&B,” “General Hospital,” and “Santa Barbara.” Val Jean serves as the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the show, which is developed by CBS Studios and the NAACP. Fans of the genre are eagerly anticipating the premiere, with many expressing their excitement and hope for the show’s success. “Beyond the Gates” offers a promising new addition to the world of daytime soaps, with its rich narrative and dynamic cast.