Ava Duvernay Adds New DC Comics Project Under Her Belt—Civil War Drama ‘DMZ’

Fresh off of her Emmys win for When They See Us, director Ava DuVernay sets her eyes on DMZ, another DC Comics project next to New Gods (via Deadline).

DMZ centers on life in a futuristic New York City amidst a brewing civil war, turning the island of Manhattan into a demilitarized zone. The series has been ordered to a pilot by HBO Max, with Duvernay at the helm. Westworld executive producer Roberto Patino will serve as the showrunner and EP.

Adapted from the comic book written by Brian Wood, DMZ features a warring conflict between to factions of chaotic America—the federal government and the Free States armies.

The logline for the show reads: “In the near future, America is embroiled in a bitter civil war, leaving Manhattan a demilitarized zone (DMZ), destroyed and isolated from the rest of the world. Leaping off the pages of the popular DC comic, Patino’s DMZ chronicles the harrowing journey of a fierce female medic who saves lives while desperately searching for her lost son. But as she contends with the gangs, militias, demagogues, and warlords that control this lawless no man’s land, she becomes the unlikely source of what everyone here has lost—hope.”

Speaking to Deadline, DuVernay revealed that the project will be a collaborative effort with her production banner, Array Filmworks. “DMZ is a special project to me as it marks a key collaboration with my company Array Filmworks, the excellent team at Warner Bros TV and the dynamo Roberto Patino,” the director said. “We’ve all worked diligently on this material, and I’ve witnessed Roberto in action. He’s insanely talented and cares about telling stories with maximum impact and imagination. I’m eager to share this one with DC fans.”

The project seems a good fit for the Emmy winner as she is also currently working on DC’s New Gods movie alongside Eisner award-winning comic book writer Tom King.

DMZ will begin production in 2020, presumably a few months before HBO Max launches.