Jay-Z and Will set to produce 'Women of the Movement' miniseries on Emmett Till's Mother

WASHINGTON (SBG) – Jay-Z and Will Smith are setting up to bring the story of Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till Mobley to television.

“Today marks 65 years since the tragic murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till. This limited series will shine a light on the determined pursuit of justice by Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till Mobley,” Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment, told Deadline. “Their story involves inconceivable heartbreak and brutality but also the enduring love of a mother and her son, galvanizing a movement that carved the path for today’s racial justice movement. We are honored to be bringing their story to ABC backed by an all-star producing team.”

ABC announced plans to air "Women of the Movement", a six-episode miniseries centering on Till's mother Mamie, who set out to seek justice after her son's brutal killing. According to the report, Marissa Jo Cerar will be the leader writer on the show, which will be produced a team that includes Jay-Z, Will Smith and Aaron Kaplan.

“I am thrilled to bring this project to television. It is unfortunately very timely, and my hope is to give the audience a chance to learn who Emmett Till really was – the boy, rather than the victim or the martyr – while also showcasing Mamie’s astonishing strength in the face of a mother’s worst nightmare,” Cerar said of her role as lead writer. “Telling Emmett and Mamie’s story is a responsibility I have not taken lightly since I began this journey last year, because this is more than a tragedy; it’s a story about a mother’s unwavering love of her son and her commitment to bettering the lives of all Black people. I can’t wait to start filming. With the brilliant Gina Prince-Bythewood as our director, we could not be in better hands.”

Till was tortured and murdered for reportedly asking a white woman out on a date in Mississippi in 1965. His death and open casket funeral ultimately set in motion the Civil Rights Movement, resulting in the 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act.

"Women of the Movement" is set to premiere in 2021.