Issa Rae and Tracy Oliver have joined forces on a new hourlong drama series titled Open, a project that has already drawn significant interest from multiple buyers in a competitive television marketplace.

The series, co-created by the longtime collaborators, centers on a married couple who decide to open their marriage in an effort to save it, a choice that reverberates through their circle of friends in Houston and unearths hidden tensions, affairs, and long-buried secrets.

According to industry reports, the project was recently shopped and has received seven offers. It is being produced by Paramount Television Studios as part of Rae’s first-look deal with the studio. Oliver is set to serve as showrunner.

She will executive produce alongside Rae and Jax Clark through Rae’s Hoorae banner, as well as Brian Dobbins of Artists First and David Becky and Jonathan Berry of 3 Arts Entertainment.

The logline describes a couple who appear to have done everything “right” in their relationship. Faced with the prospect of their marriage faltering, they opt for non-monogamy. That decision ignites a cascade of consequences among their friends, forcing the group to confront the unspoken rules and deceptions that have sustained their own partnerships.

The Houston setting grounds the story in a specific cultural and social milieu, promising a mix of intimate character work and broader ensemble dynamics.

This announcement arrives just days after news that Rae had secured a pilot order at HBO for an untitled half-hour comedy focused on male friendship and professional boxing in Las Vegas. That project reunites her with Prentice Penny, her key collaborator from the critically acclaimed series Insecure.

In that earlier pilot, a 30-year-old barber and aspiring sports manager navigates the pressures of success alongside his best friend, an up-and-coming boxer. The back-to-back developments underscore Rae’s continued momentum as a writer, producer, and creative force across both comedy and drama.

Rae rose to prominence with the web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl before creating, starring in, and executive producing Insecure for HBO, which ran for five seasons and earned widespread praise for its nuanced portrayal of contemporary Black life, friendship, and relationships.

She has since expanded into film acting, producing, and additional series work, including projects under her Hoorae company. In January, she signed a three-year first-look deal with Paramount covering film and television.

Oliver, who first collaborated with Rae on Awkward Black Girl, has built a substantial career as a screenwriter, producer, and showrunner. She co-wrote the hit comedy Girls Trip, which made her the first African-American woman to write a film that grossed more than $100 million. Her television credits include creating and running First Wives Club and the Amazon series Harlem.

She is also developing Hilary, a Bel-Air spinoff centered on the character Hilary Banks and starring Coco Jones, for Peacock. The pairing of Rae and Oliver brings together two writers known for sharp ensemble storytelling, authentic dialogue, and explorations of relationships within Black communities.

Public Reaction

Industry observers note that stories examining open relationships and non-monogamy have gained traction in recent years, reflecting broader cultural conversations about marriage, commitment, and personal fulfillment. Open approaches the subject through the lens of a specific friend group, using the central couple’s decision as a catalyst that exposes fractures across multiple relationships.

The hourlong format allows room for dramatic depth, character arcs, and the kind of layered interpersonal conflict that has defined much of both creators’ previous work.

No casting announcements or network or streamer home has been confirmed. The presence of seven offers indicates strong early demand, a notable development in a market where original series development remains highly selective.

Paramount Television Studios’ involvement under Rae’s first-look arrangement positions the project within an established studio infrastructure while leaving room for a competitive bidding process among potential distributors.

The timing of the dual announcements highlights Rae’s dual track of projects. While the HBO pilot leans into comedy and male friendship against a high-stakes sports backdrop, Open shifts toward drama and the complexities of long-term romantic partnerships.

Together they illustrate the range of stories Rae is pursuing as she moves further into producing and developing material beyond her on-screen roles.

Oliver’s role as showrunner places her at the center of day-to-day creative leadership. Her experience guiding ensemble comedies and character-driven series equips her to handle the tonal balance required for a drama that mixes relationship intrigue, secrecy, and the social fallout of unconventional choices.

The executive producing team draws from established companies with track records in packaging and shepherding prestige and commercial television projects.

For audiences familiar with Rae’s and Oliver’s earlier work, Open offers the prospect of familiar thematic territory, friendship, ambition, intimacy, and the gap between public image and private reality explored in a new dramatic register. The Houston setting may also allow for specific regional flavor, community dynamics, and cultural details that distinguish it from more generic relationship dramas.

As the project advances through the development process, further details on casting, creative staff, and a eventual home are expected. For now, the combination of two high-profile creators, a provocative premise, and demonstrated marketplace interest marks Open as one of the more closely watched series packages of the moment.

The rapid succession of Rae-related announcements this week has only heightened attention on both the HBO pilot and this new drama, reinforcing her position as a central figure in contemporary television development.