Hulu has secured the rights to If I Ruled the World, the debut novel from pioneering media executive Amy DuBois Barnett, with Lee Daniels set to co-write the pilot and produce the hour-long drama adaptation.
Set in the Y2K era, the story centers on Nikki Rose, a young magazine editor—and the only Black editor on staff at her publication. After being told one too many times that ‘Black girls don’t sell magazines,’ Nikki quits and takes over Sugar, a struggling hip-hop music and lifestyle magazine with untapped potential. Given just six months to save the publication—and her own dreams—she’s thrust into a world of wealth, excess, and nonstop scrutiny.
As Nikki works to prove she has what it takes to lead, she balances grueling all-nighters with nights spent among New York City’s most powerful insiders. But her biggest threat isn’t just industry pressure—it’s her former boss and ex-lover, Alonzo Griffin, a married and influential executive determined to destroy both Nikki and Sugar.
If I Ruled the World is inspired by Barnett’s real-life experiences as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream magazine in the U.S. Her résumé includes leading roles at Ebony, Teen People, and Honey, as well as serving as deputy editor-in-chief at Harper’s Bazaar—insider access that directly informs the series’ world and perspective.
Daniels is producing the project alongside veteran studio executive Emma Watts, who brought the manuscript to him after reading it. Barnett will also executive produce, marking a full-circle moment for a story deeply rooted in her own groundbreaking career.
The novel was acquired by Flatiron Books following a competitive auction in 2024 and is described as a fast-paced, behind-the-curtain look at the late-1990s hip-hop scene and the glossy, high-pressure world of magazine publishing. The book is set to be released this week.