Copyright Deadline
The new drama series Need To Know is in development at NBC with Taye Diggs (‘The Best Man’ franchise, All-American) attached to star and executive produce in a reunion with Malcolm D. Lee (‘The Best Man’ franchise, Girl’s Trip), who will direct and executive produce through his Blackmaled Productions. Spycraft Entertainment will also produce. Alexander Maggio (FBI, Homeland) wrote the pilot episode of Need to Know. If the show is picked up to series, Terence Paul Winter (Boston Blue, The Equalizer) will take on writing duties and will serve as executive producer. Need To Know is a spy procedural based on actual events about a battle-scarred CIA veteran (Diggs) who must team up with a cocky young officer as they run the CIA’s most daring operations from a secret base in South Florida. In addition to Lee and Diggs, the project is also executive produced by Dominique Telson, Jerry O’Shea, and John Sipher (Spycraft Entertainment), with Michael Scott Allen and Rachel Harner serving as co-executive producers. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio. Lee’s second project via his Blackmaled Productions is a TV adaptation of the novel “Becoming Marlow Fin” by Ellen Won Steil, who executive produces. The story is set over the course of an explosive primetime interview where global superstar Marlow Fin’s mysterious life is revealed. She recounts the events leading up to the disappearance of her sister and publicly makes the case for her innocence as the prime suspect in her presumed murder. Becoming Marlow Fin is written and executive produced by Des Moran (Tiny, Beautiful Things, Bel-Air), with Lee directing and executive producing. In addition to Lee, Moran, and Steil, Dominque Telson and Michael Scott Allen also EP. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio. Lee is a filmmaker, writer and producer whose films include “The Best Man” franchise, Girl’s Trip, and Night School. Lee’s accolades include the NAACP Image Award, AAFCA Award, and the Critics’ Choice Awards Celebration of Black Cinema. In 2025, Lee expanded his storytelling into the literary world with the release of his debut novel, “The Best Man: Unfinished Business,” the first in a planned trilogy that continues the journey of the iconic characters from his film series. Lee’s untitled next feature film, starring Lynn Whitfield, Chloe Bailey and Coco Jones, hits theaters in 2026. Lee is repped by IAG and Del Shaw Moonves Diggs is known for stage and screen roles, including series leads in Private Practice, Murder in the First, and All-American. Film credits include How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Forever, The Wood and “The Best Man” franchise. Diggs co-starred in both the screen and stage versions of the musical “Rent.” He has appeared in Broadway productions of “Chicago,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Wicked,” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” He is repped by IAG.
