An original Chicago Med cast member is departing the series for a new role. According to Deadline, Yaya DaCosta (America’s Next Top Model, Whitney) will be leaving the NBC medical drama to star in the new Fox drama, Our Kind of People. The new series is being executive produced by DaCosta’s The Butler director, Lee Daniels (Precious, Empire).
According to Deadline, DaCosta was quickly vetted for the lead role of Angela Vaughn for the new series written and executive produced by Karin Gist (Camp Rock, Drumline: A New Beat). Inspired by Lawrence Otis Graham’s (The Senator and the Socialite: The True Story of America’s First Black Dynasty, The Best Companies for Minorities) book entitled Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class, DaCosta’s Angela is a single mother who finds herself immersed in a new world of Black American elites. Upon inheriting a Martha’s Vineyard property following her mother’s death, she moves with her daughter, Nikki, to the New England area in an effort to build her natural hair care business.
Still bitter that her wealthy father abandoned their family when she was young, Angela is determined to make her mark in the high society community. But not everyone is so welcoming, especially head socialite Leah Franklin Dupont. When a secret from her mother’s past is unearthed, it will threaten everything Angela holds dear.
Deadline reports Daniels will executive produce with Marc Velez (Waiting to Exhale, The Wonder Years) through Lee Daniels Entertainment. They are joined by Pam Williams (Star, Fail Safe) and The Gist of It Productions’ Claire Brown (Being Mary Jane, The Game). Propagate’s Ben Silverman (Mansome, Planet of the Apps), Howard T. Owens (Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy), and Rodney Ferrell (Twist, Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation) will also executive produce along with Montrel McKay (A Black Lady Sketch Show). Actor and director Tasha Smith (Why Did I Get Married, For Better or Worse) has been tapped to direct the first two episodes. The series will be produced by 20th Television and Fox Entertainment.
DaCosta will not be leaving Chicago Med solo. Deadline reports fellow cast member Torrey DeVitto (Write Before Christmas, The Vampire Diaries) will also depart the series at the end of season six. For six seasons, DaCosta played the role of ER nurse April Sexton. DeVitto portrayed Dr. Natalie Manning.