Following the announcement of a premiere date — Monday, February 24, 2025 — CBS has unveiled the Beyond The Gates writing team.
Here’s Who Is Penning Beyond The Gates
Robert Guza, Jr., who’d already been tapped to serve as one of the sudser’s seven executive producers, will be pulling double-duty as co-headwriter alongside creatrix/showrunner/ Michele Val Jean. Guza’s long list of credits includes multiple stints at the helm of General Hospital, as well as runs at Loving and Sunset Beach which he co-created. In addition, he penned episodes of Melrose Place, Moldes Inc., and General Hospital: Night Shift, and worked as a story consultant for Port Charles
Susan Dansby, an uber-talented Jackie of All Trades has been appointed script editor, while Michael Montgomery will work as continuity producer.
The breakdown team will consist of recently displaced Days of our Lives headwriter (and former top scribe of One Life to Live and General Hospital) Ron Carlivati, Sara A. Bibel (former scriptwriter at The Young and the Restless and All My Children), Christopher Dunn (Santa Barbara, Sunset Beach, Guiding Light, et al.), Gregori J. Martin, creator of the Daytime Emmy Award-winning streaming serial The Bay, and William J. Bell find Teresa Zimmerman (The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful).
Rounding out the writers’ room is a quintet of fabulous scripters: Judy Tate (Another World and As the World Turns), Danielle Paige (Days of our Lives and Guiding Light), Jazmen Darnell Brown (Ambitions and Saints and Sinners), Cheryl L. Davis (As The World Turns and Days of our Lives), and Lynn Martin (The City and The Young and the Restless)
All About Beyond The Gates
Per the official synopsis:
Beyond the Gates is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States. Here you’ll find a posh gated community with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions to call home.
“At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those that live outside these gates are watching closely. These are the places where our characters live, love, work and play. Those who have ‘made it’ and those who haven’t are all trying to navigate life … and some with more grace than others.”
The series will air weekdays at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream Live and On Demand on Paramount+.
Your Handy Guide To Who Plays Who In Beyond The Gates
The Duprees
Tamara Tunie – Anita Dupree: “A famous singer back in the day, Anita worked hard for her success, and raised two daughters with her now-retired senator husband. But underneath her glamorous and refined exterior is a fierceness she gained from her humble beginnings in Chicago.
Clifton Davis – Vernon Dupree: “The Dupree family patriarch. Married to Anita and father to Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson and Dani Dupree. A venerable former senator, Vernon is gentle, humble and generous with his knowledge and experience. Retired now, Vernon was at the forefront of the civil rights movement.”
Karla Mosley – Dani Dupree: “A former model turned momager who gave up her career for love. Dani was the Dupree family wild child. Free-spirited, headstrong and uninhibited, she dropped out of school to pursue a high-flying modeling career and she has always marched to the beat of her own drum.”
Daphnee Duplaix – Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson: “Daughter of Anita, and Dani’s sister; a high-achieving and competitive philanthropist and psychiatrist, and exudes warmth, empathy and compassion. Nicole’s success in life extends to her marriage to her surgeon husband. She has the perfect life… from the outside.
The Hamiltons
Timon Durrett – Bill Hamilton: “Dani Dupree’s ex-husband and father to Naomi and Chelsea. Bill is an opportunist, publicity hound, and narcissist, according to his ex-wife, Dani. He is a charismatic and calculated criminal defense attorney who is well-connected, well-received, and gets what he wants by any means necessary.
Arielle Prepetit – Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne: Dani Dupree and Bill Hamilton’s oldest daughter and Chelsea’s older sister. Naomi lives outside “the gates” in Washington, D.C., where she humbly serves as a civil attorney. She’s whip-smart and the only one in the Dupree family who inherited her grandmother Anita Dupree’s gift for singing, which bonds them.
RhonniRose Mantilla – Chelsea Hamilton, Dani Dupree and Bill Hamilton’s youngest daughter and Naomi’s younger sister. Chelsea is a social media influencer and has been a successful but reluctant high fashion model since she was 18. Her career expertly guided by Dani, Chelsea is charged with recreating the life her mother gave up, which doesn’t fit her own life vision. She has a lot of money, which allows her to follow her dream of designing a line of purses and building her brand. Chelsea indulges in the good things in life, like beautiful people, parties, her new condo in D.C. and the freedom to experiment.
Jibre Hordges – Jacob Hawthorne: “Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne’s husband and a robbery/homicide detective with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. Jacob hails from a family of law enforcement. He is proud of his wife, the family he comes from, serving the community and seeking justice for victims.”
Marquita Goings – Hayley Lawson: A paralegal at Bill Hamilton’s firm. Gorgeous, intelligent, charming, witty and the new fiancée of Dani Dupree’s ex-husband, Bill Hamilton. Considered a husband-stealing tramp in Dani’s circle, Hayley is nothing if not confident. With time, patience, charm, and effort, she will try to win them over – and if not, so what? Hayley has what matters: Bill.
The Richardsons
Brandon Claybon – Martin Richardson: Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson and Ted Richardson’s son and older brother of Katherine “Kat” Richardson. A congressman who lives outside “the gates” in a Washington, D.C., brownstone with his husband and two adopted children. Following his grandfather’s path into politics, he has the ambition to be the first openly gay Black President.
Colby Muhammad – Katherine “Kat” Richardson, Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson and Ted Richardson’s miracle baby. She is the younger sister of Martin Richardson and lives in her parents’ guest house. Kat’s been indulged all her life, which has made her spoiled, entitled, and dismissive of those she considers beneath her. She’s confident and secure and has never doubted herself or her privileged position in the world. She doesn’t like to share but doesn’t know that the day when she is forced to may be fast approaching.
Sean Freeman – Andre Hamilton: The sophisticated nephew of Ted Richardson. Andre tragically lost his parents in a plane crash and inherited a double fortune, which allows him to live his bliss as a photographer. Nicole and Ted stepped up for Andre when his parents died, and he depends on their support and wise counsel. A playboy who is smooth on the surface, there is something elusive about Andre that occasionally makes people question his intentions.
Mike Manning – Bradley “Smitty” Smith: “Husband to Congressman Martin Richardson and father to teenagers Tyrell and Samantha. A former political reporter turned househusband, Smitty is a fantastic dad who has guided his children with warmth and good humor. Smitty is thinking of resuming his writing career but is hesitant to tell Martin, who likes their home life the way it is.”
The Thomases
Trisha Mann-Grant – Dana “Leslie” Thomas: Eva Thomas’ mom and a long-time waitress and bartender. Dana “Leslie” is not wrapped all that tight and intense, but she’s charming and easy out in the world. The only person who sees what’s disturbing about her is her daughter, Eva, and very soon all will see what is unsettling about her, too.
Ambyr Michelle – Eva Thomas: Dana “Leslie” Thomas’ daughter and Nicole Dupree Richardson’s new assistant, who vibrates with intensity and purpose. Eva is determined to right a grievous wrong done to her mother as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
Friends, Neighbors, And Acquaintances
Jen Jacob – Ashley Morgan: “Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne’s best friend, who is the only child of a young single mother. Ashley was a latchkey kid who has never been afraid of rolling up her sleeves. She is a nurse at Washington D.C.’s Garland Memorial Hospital and has the perfect temperament for her profession – positive, cheerful, brisk, resourceful and independent. She can be serious but is also fun-loving with a smile that lights up a room.”
Ben Gavin – Derek Baldwin: “A devoted firefighter in a relationship with Ashley Morgan and best friend to Jacob Hawthorne. Derek is fearless, holds nothing back and goes into a zone when he fights fire – which is almost personal for him rather than just a professional calling. Incredibly handy, Derek can fix almost anything.”
Lauren Bugliogli – Vanessa McBride: “A high-end real estate agency owner who specializes in luxury property and is neighbors with Dani Dupree and best friend to Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson. The mother of twins, Vanessa is in a loveless marriage with her high school sweetheart.”
Alex Alegria – Tomas “Tom” Navarro: A handsome and confident young attorney at Bill Hamilton’s law firm. Tomas has an eye for Katherine ‘Kat’ Richardson.”
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