Soap operas once dominated daytime television, with classics like General Hospital, All My Children, and Days of Our Lives becoming household staples. Now, for the first time in over 25 years, a brand-new daytime soap opera is hitting network television—and it’s already making history.
CBS’s Beyond the Gates is the first new daytime soap opera on network TV in a quarter-century and the first hour-long daytime soap opera with a predominantly Black cast.
The show follows the Dupree family, a wealthy and powerful Black family living in a gated community outside Washington, D.C. The last daytime soap opera to center around a Black family was NBC’s half-hour drama Generations, which debuted in 1989.
Now, Beyond the Gates is set to bring a fresh and diverse perspective to daytime television with a dynamic, multi-generational family saga that blends drama, romance, and power struggles.
The series has a powerhouse cast of veteran and emerging actors. Clifton Davis stars as Vernon Dupree, the patriarch of the family, while Tamara Tunie plays his wife, Anita Dupree. Daphnée Duplaix and Karla Mosley portray their daughters, Nicole Dupree Richardson and Danielle “Dani” Dupree, respectively.
Brandon Claybon joins the cast as Martin Richardson, Nicole’s son, while Timon Kyle Durrett plays Bill Hamilton, Dani’s ex-husband. The cast also includes Maurice Johnson as Ted Richardson, Nicole’s husband, whose secrets threaten to shake the family’s foundation.
Mike Manning plays Bradley “Smitty” Smith, Martin’s husband, as they navigate raising children together in a world full of shifting dynamics. The supporting ensemble features a network of family members, rivals, and allies, each with their own stakes in the Dupree empire, ensuring a complex and deeply layered storyline.
At its heart, Beyond the Gates is a story about family, ambition, and the secrets hidden behind wealth and success. Vernon and Anita Dupree, played by Davis and Tunie, built their legacy from the ground up and now struggle to maintain control as their children step into power.
Their eldest daughter, Nicole, must balance her marriage with her family’s growing empire, while Dani, their younger daughter, faces past heartbreak and the pressures of new opportunities. Meanwhile, Dani’s ex-husband Bill Hamilton remains entangled in the family’s affairs, creating a web of romantic and business conflicts that drive the drama forward.
With its luxurious setting, deeply layered characters, and an all-star cast, Beyond the Gates is more than just another soap opera—it’s a cultural moment. For too long, Black families and narratives have been underrepresented in daytime television. With this show, CBS is embracing diversity and storytelling that reflects real-world experiences.
Beyond the Gates replaces The Talk on CBS’ lineup at 2 pm EST/1 pm PST. Check out the trailer.
Photo Credit: CBS
