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First Look: OWN's Mega-Church Drama Greenleaf

CC | tv-14
This June, executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Craig Wright (Six Feet Under, Lost) share a family drama set against the backdrop of a sprawling Memphis mega-church. Featuring Oprah Winfrey's first recurring scripted television role in two decades, Greenleaf will have a two-night premiere on OWN. The first episode airs on Tuesday, June 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and the second and third episodes air Wednesday, June 22, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

The story centers on the journey of estranged daughter and disillusioned preacher Grace Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge, The Night Shift) who has returned home after 20 years on the occasion of the mysterious death of her sister, Faith. As she reenters the world of Calvary Fellowship World Ministries, the Memphis mega-church run by her powerful parents Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David, Enlisted and Community) and Lady Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield, The Josephine Baker Story), it becomes evident that things are not as virtuous as they seem and that the family’s outward display of faith hides their sin and misdeeds.

In the season premiere, Grace and her teenage daughter Sophia (Desiree Ross, Falling Skies) are warmly welcomed home by Grace’s father, Bishop Greenleaf. Sparked by Grace’s return to Memphis, tensions quickly rise. At a family dinner in the Greenleaf mansion, Grace’s mother is cold and hostile. Her sister-in-law Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne, Rake) questions her about her faith and sister Charity (Deborah Joy Winans, Whitney) erupts with jealousy at the suggestion that Grace might start preaching at Calvary.

Later, Grace's Aunt Mavis (Oprah Winfrey, Selma) discusses with her the circumstances of Faith's death and reveals some shocking information about Grace's Uncle "Mac" (Gregory Alan Williams, Terminator Genisys). Mavis is still estranged from the Greenleaf family and it becomes evident that she intends to use Grace to sow the seeds of its destruction.

Tune in for the two-night season premiere at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Tuesday, June 21, and 9 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, June 22. The remaining episodes in the 13-episode season will air regularly on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.