TV News: Oprah Winfrey to Star in HBO Films' THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS

UPDATED Tues 2/14/17 – Premiere Date Set

In a press release:

HBO has confirmed that the HBO Films presentation THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS will debut SATURDAY, APRIL 22 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne star in this adaptation of Rebecca Skloot’s critically acclaimed, bestselling nonfiction book of the same name. The film tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line. Told through the eyes of her daughter, Deborah Lacks (Winfrey), the film chronicles her search, with the help of journalist Rebecca Skloot (Byrne), to learn about the mother she never knew and understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs, changing countless lives and the face of medicine forever. George C. Wolfe directs from his screenplay; Oprah Winfrey, Alan Ball, Peter Macdissi, Carla Gardini and Lydia Dean Pilcher executive produce. A Your Face Goes Here Entertainment, Harpo Films and Cine Mosaic production.

In a press release:

OPRAH WINFREY TO STAR IN HBO FILMS’

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS

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Directed By George C. Wolfe From His Screenplay;

Based On “The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks,” By Rebecca Skloot;

Executive Produced By Oprah Winfrey, Alan Ball, Peter Macdissi,

Carla Gardini And Lydia Dean Pilcher; Rebecca Skloot Co-Executive Produces;

A Your Face Goes Here Entertainment, Harpo Films And Cine Mosaic Production

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Los Angeles, May 2, 2016 – Emmy^® winner and Oscar^® nominee Oprah Winfrey (“Selma,” “The Color Purple,” “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”) will star in HBO Films’ THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, based on Rebecca Skloot’s critically acclaimed, bestselling nonfiction book of the same name. DGA winner, Emmy^® nominee and veteran Broadway director-producer George C. Wolfe (HBO’s “Lackawanna Blues”; Tony winner for “Angels in America”) will direct from his screenplay. Winfrey, Academy Award^®, Emmy^® and Golden Globe winner Alan Ball (“American Beauty”; HBO’s “True Blood” and “Six Feet Under”; CINEMAX’s “Banshee”), Peter Macdissi (CINEMAX’s “Banshee”), Carla Gardini (“The Hundred-Foot Journey”) and Lydia Dean Pilcher (HBO’s “You Don’t Know Jack”) will executive produce, and Rebecca Skloot will co-executive produce the film, a Your Face Goes Here Entertainment, Harpo Films and Cine Mosaic production.

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line. Told through the eyes of her daughter, Deborah Lacks (Winfrey), the film chronicles her search to learn about the mother she never knew and to understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs, changing countless lives and the face of medicine forever. It’s a story of medical arrogance and triumph, race, poverty and deep friendship between the unlikeliest of people.

Rebecca Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” which took more than a decade to research and write, instantly hit the New York Times bestseller list upon publication, and remained there for more than four years.

Henrietta Lacks’ sons David Lacks, Jr. and Zakariyya Rahman and granddaughter Jeri Lacks are consultants.

Filming will begin this summer.