'Queen Sugar' Renewed for Fourth Season on OWN

OWN announced today it has renewed for a fourth season Ava DuVernay's critically acclaimed drama series Queen Sugar, ahead of the extended 90-minute season three finale airing Wednesday, August 22 (10-11:30 p.m. ET/PT).

In addition, Queen Sugar co-executive producer Anthony Sparks will take the reigns as showrunner/executive producer for season four, continuing DuVernay's intention of providing showrunner opportunities to those who have never before held the position.

"Under Ava's creative vision and leadership, Queen Sugar continues to earn a well-deserved reputation for depicting nuanced characters, rich storylines and establishing an inclusive team that inspires and ignites much needed conversations about our society today," said Erik Logan, president, OWN. "We are very proud of this show, the incredible cast, producers and crew, and can't wait for more of the Bordelon family in season four."

In the series' season three finale, Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) receives some unexpected news, the fate of the correctional facility is revealed, and Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) makes a proposal on behalf of the farmers. Plus, Violet (Tina Lifford) and Hollywood (Omar J. Dorsey) celebrate their love. The series also stars Nicholas Ashe, Dondré T. Whitfield, Bianca Lawson and Henry G. Sanders. Timon Kyle Durrett guest stars.

Check out a sneak peek below.

'Queen Sugar' Season Premiere Delivers 2.1 Million Viewers for OWN

The third season premiere of OWN drama series Queen Sugar delivered 2.1 million viewers and ranked as Tuesday night's #1 cable telecast in OWN's key demographic of women 25-54 (L+3). The acclaimed drama from award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay and executive producer Oprah Winfrey was also the night's #1 telecast across all of broadcast and cable for African-American women.

In addition, the season premiere of Queen Sugar ranked as the #1 most social show on Twitter and Facebook in all of cable among all dayparts (non-sports) for the day.

OWN was Tuesday night's #1 cable network among W25-54 with Queen Sugar and The Haves and the Have Nots among the top three cable telecasts in the key demo. OWN was also Tuesday night's #1 network on all of television, including broadcast and cable, for African-American women and total viewers.

2018 to date, OWN boasts three of the top five scripted series overall on ad-supported cable among W25-54 (The Haves and the Have Nots, Queen Sugar, and If Loving You is Wrong).

'Queen Sugar' To Premiere September 6 on OWN; Cast Includes Greg Vaughan, Dondre Whitfield

Queen Sugar's two-night premiere kicks off September 6.

Queen Sugar, the new original one-hour weekly drama series from award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay and executive producer Oprah Winfrey, debuts as a two-night event on Tuesday, September 6 and Wednesday, September 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The series will regularly air Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT for the remainder of its 13-episode first season. Led by acclaimed film director DuVernay, who directed the first two episodes, all episodes in the series' debut season are directed by women.

Produced by Warner Horizon Television, the contemporary drama Queen Sugar chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Saint Josephine, Louisiana: Nova (Rutina Wesley True Blood), a world-wise journalist and activist; Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner Unforgettable), the savvy wife and manager of an NBA star; and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe Awkward), a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption. After a family tragedy, the Bordelons must navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run an ailing sugarcane farm in the Deep South. Queen Sugar is produced for OWN by Warner Horizon Television. The executive producers are Ava DuVernay, Melissa Carter and Oprah Winfrey. The series is inspired by the book by Natalie Baszile.

'Days of our Lives' Star Greg Vaughan Joins OWN Drama 'Queen Sugar'

Greg Vaughan

Greg Vaughan (Eric, Days of our Lives), Bianca Lawson (ex-Eva, Witches of East End), Henry G. Sanders (ex-Walter, The Young and the Restless) have joined the cast of the new original drama series "Queen Sugar," from award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay (Selma) for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and produced by Warner Horizon Television.

The series, which will begin production in Louisiana and Los Angeles this month, chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings - Nova (Rutina Wesley, True Blood), Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Unforgettable) and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe, Awkward) - who come together after a family tragedy to run an ailing sugarcane farm in the Deep South.

Lawson portrays Darla, the ex-girlfriend of Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) and mother of their son, 6-year-old Blue, who she has been prevented from seeing as she battles drug addiction. Vaughan portrays Calvin, a cop and longtime lover of Nova (Rutina Wesley), who shares a deep connection with her despite being married. Sanders, in a recurring role, portrays Prosper Denton, a farmer and old friend of Ernest (guest star Glynn Turman).

The series is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay and Melissa Carter. DuVernay developed Queen Sugar for television, wrote its pilot episode and will direct multiple episodes of the show's first season.

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- Glynn Turman to Guest Star in OWN Drama 'Queen Sugar'

Glynn Turman to Guest Star in OWN Drama 'Queen Sugar'

Glynn Turman

Emmy winner Glynn Turman will guest star in the new primetime drama Queen Sugar, from award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay (Selma) for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and produced by Warner Horizon Television.

Turman portrays Ernest Bordelon, the patriarch and proud father of Nova (Rutina Wesley), Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe). An intelligent and loving man, Ernest is sugar cane farmer who has kept from his family the fact that the farm is failing, and he hasn't brought in a successful crop in two years.

A New York native, Turman was just 13 years old when he starred on Broadway in "A Raisin in the Sun" opposite Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee. He won an Emmy in 2008 for his guest appearance on In Treatment, and has earned several NAACP Image Awards for both acting and directing throughout his career. Turman portrayed a mayor on the award-winning drama series The Wire, and has most recently appeared in House of Lies, where he plays Don Cheadle's father.

Executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and DuVernay, the series is based on Natalie Baszile's acclaimed novel Queen Sugar. DuVernay developed Queen Sugar for television, wrote its pilot episode and will direct multiple episodes of the show's first season.

Queen Sugar chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Saint Josephine, Louisiana: Charley, the savvy wife and manager of an NBA star; Nova, a world-wise journalist and activist; and Ralph Angel, a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption. After a family tragedy, the Bordelons must navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run an ailing sugarcane farm in the Deep South.

The series is based on the book by Natalie Baszile.