‘Beyond The Gates’ Premise, Full Cast List and Production Staff
CBS
Beyond The Gates is a daytime serial developed by NAACP Ventures (led by Sheila Ducksworth) in partnership with CBS Studios and P&G Studios (a division of Procter & Gamble) and will debut in January 2025. It is the first daytime serial with a predominately Black cast.
The daytime serial is the first soap opera created by an African American with Michele Val Jean (Ambitions/The Bold and The Beautiful/General Hospital/Generations/Santa Barbara) who serves as the creator, showrunner, and co-executive producer, working alongside additional executive producers Kimberly Doebereiner (Mars 2028/The Tent Mender/The Turning Point), Ducksworth (Ambitions/The Baxters/Soul Food), Julie Carruthers (All My Children/General Hospital/Port Charles/Santa Barbara), Robert Guza Jr. (General Hospital/Loving/Port Charles/Santa Barbara/Sunset Beach), Derrick Johnson (53, 54 and 55 NAACP Image Awards), Leon W. Russell (Chair of the NAACP Board of Directors), and Anna Saalfeld (Empire Waist). This highly-anticipated new series is set to begin production in November 2024, in Atlanta and is scheduled to premiere in early 2025.
Premise
The soap opera Beyond The Gates is set in an affluent, predominantly African American suburb just outside Washington, D.C. This leafy community is home to a posh gated development with winding, tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions. At the heart of this exclusive enclave lives the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that embodies Black privilege and success. However, beneath the pristine facades and manicured gardens lie scandalous secrets waiting to be unearthed. And those on the outside are watching closely, their lives intertwined with the residents in complex ways. This is the world our characters inhabit - some having "made it," others still striving, as they navigate life with varying degrees of grace.
Cast Breakdown
Dupree Family
Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis): The patriarch of the family. He is married to Anita and is the father of Dani Dupree and Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson. A venerable former senator, Vernon is gentle, humble, and generous with his knowledge and experience.
Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie): The matriarch of the family. A famous singer back in the day, Anita worked hard for her success and raised two daughters Dani and Nicole with her now-retired senator husband. But underneath her glamorous and refined exterior is a fierceness she gained from her humble beginnings in Chicago.
Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley): Veron and Anita’s second daughter and sister of Dani. She is a former model turned mom-manager who gave up her career for love. Dani was the Dupree family's wild child. Free-spirited, headstrong, and uninhibited, she dropped out of school to pursue a high-flying modeling career and has always marched to the beat of her drum.
Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix): The daughter of Veron and Anita, and Dani’s sister, Nicole is a high-achieving and competitive philanthropist and psychiatrist and exudes warmth, empathy, and compassion. Nicole’s success in life extends to her marriage to her surgeon husband. She has the perfect life … from the outside.
HAMILTON family
Bill Hamilton (Timon Durrett): The patriarch of the family. Dani Dupree’s ex-husband and father to Naomi and Chelsea. Bill is an opportunist, publicity hound, and narcissist, according to his ex-wife, Dani. He is a charismatic and calculated criminal defense attorney who is well-connected, well-received, and gets what he wants by any means necessary.
Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit): Bill and Dani’s oldest daughter, and Chelsea’s older sister. Naomi lives outside “the gates” in Washington, D.C., where she humbly serves as a civil attorney. She’s whip-smart and the only one in the Dupree family who inherited her grandmother Anita Dupree’s gift for singing, which bonds them.
Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla): Bill and Dani’s youngest daughter and Naomi’s younger sister. Chelsea is a social media influencer and has been a successful but reluctant high fashion model since she was 18. Her career expertly guided by Dani, Chelsea is charged with recreating the life her mother gave up, which doesn’t fit her life vision. She has a lot of money, which allows her to follow her dream of designing a line of purses and building her brand. Chelsea indulges in the good things in life, like beautiful people, parties, her new condo in D.C., and the freedom to experiment.
Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings): A paralegal at Bill’s firm. Hayley is gorgeous, intelligent, charming, witty, and the new fiancée of Dani’s ex-husband. Viewed as a husband-stealing tramp in Dani’s circle, Hayley is nothing if not confident. With time, patience, charm, and effort, she will try to win them over – and if not, so what? Hayley has what matters: Bill.
RICHARDSON family
Ted Richardson (Maurice Johnson): The patriarch of the family. Nicole’s husband and father to Martin Richardson and Katerine “Kat” Richardson. Ted is a brilliant plastic surgeon with an ultra-exclusive private practice and women clamor to put their faces and bodies in what they call his blessed hands. Ted has created an impeccable life with his wife – whom he loves passionately – and sleeps well at night, secure that his past will never disrupt his perfect world.
Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon): The son and older brother of Katherine “Kat” Richardson. Martin is a congressman who lives outside “the gates” in a Washington, D.C., brownstone with his husband Bradley “Smitty” Smith, and two adopted children Samantha and Tyrell. Following his grandfather’s path into politics, he has the ambition to be the first openly gay Black President.
Katherine “Kat” Richardson (Colby Muhammad): Ted and Nicole’s miracle baby. She is Martin's younger sister and lives in her parent’s guest house. Kat’s been indulged all her life, which has made her spoiled, entitled, and dismissive of those she considers beneath her. She’s confident and secure and has never doubted herself or her privileged position in the world. She doesn’t like to share but doesn’t know that the day she is forced to may be fast approaching.
Andre Hamilton (Sean Freeman): The sophisticated nephew of Ted. Andre tragically lost his parents in a plane crash and inherited a double fortune, which allows him to live his bliss as a photographer. Nicole and Ted stepped up for Andre when his parents died, and he depended on their support and wise counsel. A playboy who is smooth on the surface, there is something elusive about Andre that occasionally makes people question his intentions.
THOMAS family
Dana “Leslie” Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant): Eva Thomas’ mom and a long-time waitress and bartender. Leslie is not wrapped all that tight and intense, but she’s charming and easy out in the world. The only person who sees what’s disturbing about her is her daughter, Eva, and very soon all will see what is unsettling about her, too.
Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle): Leslie’s daughter, and Nicole’s new assistant, who vibrates with intensity and purpose. Eva is determined to right a grievous wrong done to her mother when the opportunity presents itself.
Other Cast Members
Derek Baldwin (Ben Gavin): Ashley's firefighter boyfriend, who also happens to be Jacob's best friend.
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges): A police detective married to civil attorney Naomi. Although she is a Dupree heiress, Naomi and Jacob have decided to live outside “the gates”.
Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli): A glamorous real estate mogul in a loveless marriage. Vanessa is Nicole’s best friend and the neighbor of Nicole's sister Dani.
Bradley "Smitty" Smith (Mike Manning): The ex-political reporter is married to Dupree's grandson, Martin raising their adopted children Samantha and Tyrell.
Ashley Morgan (Jen Jacob): A nurse raised by her single mom.
Tomas “Tom” Navarro (Alex Alegria): A handsome and confident young attorney at Bill’s law firm. Tom has his eye on Kat the spoiled, selfish daughter of Nicole and Ted.
Production Staff
Creator & Showrunner: Michele Val Jean
Executive Producers: Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Robert Guza Jr., Michele Val Jean, Derrick Johnson, Leon W. Russell, and Anna Saalfeld
Script Writers: Sara Bibel, Jazmen Darnell Brown, Ron Carlivati, Susan Dansby, Cheryl L. Davis, Christopher Dunn, Georgi J. Martin, Lynn Martin, Danielle Paige, Skyy Sandifer, Judy Tate, and Teresa Zimmerman
Directors: Anthony Pascarelli, Phideaux Xavier, and Steven Williford
Line Producer: Albert T. Dickerson III
Producers: Nadine Aronson and Sonia Blangiardo
Coordinating Producer: Alicia Hailey Daniels
Casting: Kim Coleman
Set Designer: Kristen B. Adams
Props: Mariel Dolgicer