CBS is making television history with its newest daytime drama Beyond the Gates, the first Black-led soap opera in 35 years. The groundbreaking series premieres on February 24, and on Monday, the network unveiled its highly anticipated first trailer.
The show is set in Fairmont Crest, an exclusive, affluent gated community just outside Washington, D.C., where wealth and secrets collide. At the center of the story is the powerful Dupree family, described as “the very definition of Black royalty.”
“Your family rules this community,” one voice proclaims in the teaser, while another declares, “This is going to make history. How awesome is that?”
The Duprees are led by Vernon Dupree, a former senator known for his “gentle, humble, and generous” nature, played by veteran actor Clifton Davis. Tamara Tunie stars alongside him as Anita Dupree, a former iconic singer and the family’s unwavering matriarch.
The couple’s two daughters, Nicole and Dani, bring their own complexities to the series. Daphnee Duplaix plays Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson, a driven psychiatrist and philanthropist whose picture-perfect life might not be as flawless as it seems. Meanwhile, Karla Mosley portrays Dani Dupree, a spirited former model who gave up her career to focus on family.
The trailer hints at explosive drama, including one unforgettable moment where Dani sweeps objects off a desk with a gold-plated golf club. Such scenes promise the kind of high-stakes storytelling that soap opera fans crave.
A Groundbreaking Return to Daytime
Beyond the Gates marks the first Black daytime drama since NBC’s Generations ended in 1991. The series also stands as the first new soap opera on a major network since Passions debuted in 1999.
Helming the series is veteran writer and showrunner Michele Val Jean, known for her work on General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful. Speaking about the show, Sheila Ducksworth, president of CBS Studios’ NAACP venture, said, “With multidimensional characters, juicy storylines, and Black culture front and center, Beyond the Gates will have impactful representation.”
Beyond the Gates premieres February 24 on CBS and will also stream on Paramount+.