Biographie
Rodney Barnes, an award-winning veteran screenwriter and producer, has become a prominent figure in Hollywood. His dynamic voice and production skills earned him an overall deal with HBO in September 2020. Barnes has demonstrated versatility across major industry projects, from Adult Swim's The Boondocks to Hulu's Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
Currently, Barnes serves as executive producer for HBO's Showtime series, which explores the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Showtime Lakers during their energetic golden era. He is also the showrunner, writer, and creator of Things That Make White People Uncomfortable, a series in development at HBO Max with John Wells, based on Michael Bennett's book. The second arc of his acclaimed graphic novel Killadelphia was released in August 2020, with a television adaptation underway at Levantine TV. Barnes is set to write a feature for New Regency, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, and is developing a miniseries about golf legend Tiger Woods. Additionally, he has signed a two-year overall deal to write, direct, and produce original content for HBO. Barnes founded Zombie Love Studios, a graphic novel production company that adapts and creates original works published through Amazing Comics Publishing, his own publishing firm. He continues writing Killadelphia for Image Comics and plans to release three new titles with Image Comics in Spring 2021.
Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Barnes grew up surrounded by books, comics, television, and film, especially in horror, science fiction, and hard drama—genres that continue to influence his work. Inspired by storytelling's power, he aspired to be a screenwriter. After attending Howard University and working as a production assistant on films like The Pelican Brief, Clear and Present Danger, Quiz Show, and Major League 2, Barnes relocated to Los Angeles. There, he continued as a PA on projects such as Blade, starring Wesley Snipes, and was a stand-in for Michael Clarke Duncan on The Green Mile, where he met his lifelong hero, Stephen King.
Actor and comedian Damon Wayans, whom Barnes met while working on Major Payne, encouraged him to pursue writing in Los Angeles. Wayans mentored Barnes, hiring him as a consultant and later as a writer and producer on ABC's My Wife and Kids from 2001 to 2005, earning Barnes a BET Comedy Award nomination.
Barnes then worked as executive producer and writer on the acclaimed animated series The Boondocks, winning a Peabody Award for the episode "The Return of the King" and receiving both a nomination and win at the NAACP Image Awards.
While on The Boondocks, Barnes was also co-executive producer and writer for Chris Rock's Everybody Hates Chris (2005-2009), earning an American Film Institute Award and a Writers Guild of America nomination. His other credits include co-executive producer roles on 'Til Death (2010), consulting producer on Brothers (2009) and Those Who Can't, co-executive producer for the second season of Comedy Central's Legends of Chamberlain Heights, and a WGA nomination for the 88th Academy Awards hosted by Chris Rock.
Transitioning from sitcoms to drama, fantasy, and horror, Barnes has served as co-executive producer and writer on Marvel's Runaways, Starz's American Gods, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga. His graphic novel work includes Marvel/Lucasfilm's Lando: Double or Nothing, Lion Forge's Quincredible, and Marvel's Falcon and Secret Empire, contributing to his extensive project portfolio.
Beyond entertainment, Barnes is an active speaker, sharing insights on his career, media trends, cultural and racial issues, and comic book culture.
He currently lives in Los Angeles.
