David Makes Man

Did You Know?

• On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 100% approval rating based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 8.98/10.
• On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating 'universal acclaim'.

Production

In August 2017, the Oprah Winfrey Network ordered a straight-to-series project from Tarell Alvin McCraney. By June 2018, Dee Harris-Lawrence was set to run the show and executive produce alongside McCraney, Mike Kelley, Melissa Loy, Michael B. Jordan, and Oprah Winfrey. Warner Horizon Scripted Television, Page Fright, and Outlier Productions were the production companies involved. The pilot debuted at South by Southwest on March 10, 2019, and the series itself premiered on OWN on August 14, 2019.

OWN renewed it for a second season on December 19, 2019. HBO Max acquired the streaming rights on June 29, 2020, releasing the show on July 16, 2020. Harris-Lawrence later signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Studios. The second season premiered on June 22, 2021.

Casting for the first season was announced in June 2018, with series regulars including Akili McDowell, Phylicia Rashad, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Isaiah Johnson, Ade Chike Torbert, Jordan Bolger, Cayden K. Williams, and Travis Coles. Alana Arenas was added as a regular in August 2018, while Gillian Williams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Elvis Nolasco, and Randy Gonzalez took recurring roles. In October 2018, more recurring cast members were announced: Lela Rochon, Trace Lysette, Liza Colón-Zayas, Juanita Jennings, Lindsey Blackwell, Solomon Valdez, Teshi Thomas, Nick Creegan, Kimaya Naomi, and Logan Rozos.

For the second season, Kwame Patterson and Arlen Escarpeta were cast as leads in August 2020, and in December 2020, Tony Plana, Brittany S. Hall, Erica Luttrell, Zsané Jhé, Bobbi Baker, Patrice Arenas, Trinity Cidel, Brandi Huzzie, Rodney Gardiner, and Janmarco Santiago joined in recurring roles. Production started in summer 2018 in Orlando, Florida.