Prime Video is bringing the early 1900s to the small screen with The Davenports, a new period drama series based on Krystal Marquis’ bestselling young adult novel of the same name. The project hails from Alloy Entertainment, Amazon MGM Studios, and Warner Bros. Television.
Set in 1910s America, The Davenports follows one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status at the time, led by former enslaved patriarch William Davenport. His fortune—built from grit, entrepreneurship, and legacy—gives his family access to a life of luxury: grand estates, lavish parties, and high-society expectations. But it’s his daughters and their close-knit circle of friends who anchor this sweeping story of love, ambition, rebellion, and self-discovery.
A search is currently underway for a screenwriter, but with heavy hitters like Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo executive producing for Alloy, expectations are high for this adaptation.
What’s The Davenports About?
The series centers around four young women whose lives are intertwined through love, status, and dreams in a world that expects them to stay in line.
- Olivia Davenport, the eldest daughter, is being primed to marry well for the sake of her family’s name—but her heart leans toward Washington Dewight, a civil rights activist who challenges everything she’s been taught.
- Helen Davenport, the younger sister, isn’t interested in balls and suitors. She wants to fix cars and forge her own path—something unheard of for a woman, let alone a Black woman, in 1910.
- Amy-Rose, daughter of the family’s maid, is close to the Davenports—until romantic feelings emerge between her and the family’s eldest son.
- Ruby, Olivia’s best friend, is in love with that same son too, but her interest is tangled up in political aspirations and parental pressure.
This rich tapestry of characters, class, and culture set during the rise of the Black elite makes The Davenports the kind of drama Prime Video viewers are sure to devour.
A Bestseller With Staying Power
Marquis’ debut novel hit shelves in January 2023 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. It was nominated for Best YA Novel in the Goodreads Choice Awards, named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, a #1 Indie Next Pick, and won the Heartland Booksellers Award.
The book’s widespread acclaim made it ripe for screen adaptation—and it’s only the beginning. The sequel, The Davenports: More Than This, is set to release November 12, 2025, and continues the saga with weddings, heartbreak, business ambitions, and new love interests.
A Big Win for Diverse Historical Storytelling
With Prime Video, Warner Bros. TV, and Alloy Entertainment (the team behind You, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and The Vampire Diaries) all backing the series, The Davenports is poised to be a standout historical drama with a refreshing lens. Its portrayal of Black wealth, romance, and womanhood in early 20th-century America makes it a rare gem in a genre that’s long overdue for inclusive storytelling.
No premiere date has been announced yet, but stay tuned—because The Davenports might just become Prime Video’s next prestige hit.