BET has tapped Erica Shelton Kodish (The Good Wife) to executive produce and show run the hit drama series Being Mary Jane starring Gabrielle Union. Will Packer (Ride Along, Think Like A Man) will come on board as executive producer. Korin D. Huggins, Head of Television for Will Packer Productions, will oversee the series for the company.
The show is entering into its fourth season and revolves around the personal and professional life of news anchor Mary Jane Paul (Union). The series has been applauded and celebrated for painting a realistic and accurate depiction of black women rarely seen on screen today.
The series was originally created by Mara Brock Akil (The Game) and executive produced and directed by Salim Akil who both recently signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. The new deal with Warner Bros begins this month; however, the Akils will still maintain their executive producer credit on the BET series.
“Being Mary Jane is full of characters and stories about which BET viewers are passionate. We knew it would take special talent to further this very important mission and we’re lucky to have found them in this dynamic duo. Will’s a master producer and storyteller and Erica is a dynamic writer whose experience in developing complex, multi-dimensional women makes her the ideal scribe to continue Mary Jane’s journey.” – Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks
Shelton Kodish began her career in 2005 writing episodes of CSI: NY. She has worked on shows such as the legal series Close to Home, the police-procedural series Cold Case, the medical drama HawthoRNe, and served as a series writer and producer for the USA Network political drama Covert Affairs. Most recently, Shelton Kodish wrapped the final season of The Good Wife as co-executive producer.
“I’m honored to have an opportunity to partner with Will Packer, Gabrielle Union, and BET to create stories for Being Mary Jane. Mara Brock Akil has created a show that has a unique ability to address issues relevant to black women and I’m thrilled to be in a position to tell those stories.” – Erica Shelton Kodish
Production on the new season is set to begin in Atlanta, GA later this year.