Freeform Prez Tara Duncan Will Head New Disney/Hulu Content Brand for Creators of Color

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Freeform Prez Tara Duncan Will Head New Disney/Hulu Content Brand for Creators of Color

Tara Duncan, president of Freeform and one of The Hollywood Reporter’s 2021 Women in Entertainment Power 100, is taking on a new role. Walt Disney Television’s Dana Walden has announced Duncan will lead Onyx Collective, a curated Hulu content brand of entertainment made by creators of color and underrepresented voices. She has been spearheading Onyx since the project was unveiled last year.

Onyx will be home to titles including Nikole Hannah-Jones and Oprah Winfrey’s “1619 Project” and Sundance award-winner “Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised),” as well as the content hailing from Natasha Rothwell’s overall deal with ABC Signature.

“Hulu will serve as a primary home for Onyx Collective titles, though the roster of creators under the Onyx Collective brand will have access to all Disney platforms,” the press release states. “Select titles will also be available internationally on Disney+ as part of the Star general entertainment offering.”

“Our industry is immeasurably enriched by the incredible talents of emerging and established creators of color. Launching Onyx Collective allows us to be the best partners to those creators, providing them with the support they need to do their best work,” said Walden. “Tara Duncan is a gifted executive with fantastic instincts. With her leading this talented team, we have the opportunity to tell transformative stories that authentically represent our audience and are essential to our success.”

Duncan added, “We’re building a home where creators of color are inspired, empowered, and have unparalleled access to reach audiences around the world. This artist-first approach will make Onyx Collective synonymous with entertaining, brave, and bold ideas told from a distinct point of view. I’m humbled by the opportunity and all of the possibilities.”

Duncan will continue on as president of Freeform in addition to heading Onyx. She inked an overall deal with Hulu in 2020, which helped the streamer land an adaptation of Zakiya Dalila Harris’ debut novel, “The Other Black Girl.” A founding member of Time’s Up mentorship program Who’s In The Room, Duncan previously worked on shows such as “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Orange Is the New Black.”