Lupita Nyong'o & Danai Gurira's 'Americanah' Series Is No Longer Moving Forward at HBO Max
Update, 10/15/2020:
Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira's adaptation of Americanah, based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel of the same name, will no longer move forward at HBO Max. Nyong’o had to exit the project due to a scheduling conflict, Variety reports.
The former Black Panther co-stars were set to executive produce the show together, with Nyong'o starring and Gurira writing and show-running. HBO Max originally ordered a 10-episode series in 2019. Production was meant to start this year but was pushed back due to coronavirus delays.
Nyong'o and Gurira have yet to publicly comment on the news.
Original story, 3/3/2018:
Today in incredible television news—Black Panther stars Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira are reuniting for a new TV miniseries.
Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Americanah, Nyong'o will play the lead character, while Gurira will write the show. Gurira, best known for her roles in Black Panther and The Walking Dead, is also a celebrated playwright. Her 2009 play Eclipsed was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play, and also starred Nyong’o during its Broadway run.
A post shared by Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo) on Feb 17, 2018 at 5:37am PST
Americanah focuses on two young Nigerians who fall in love, and are then separated. While one moves to America to pursue a college degree, the other is unable to obtain a visa, and ends up in London, undocumented. Throughout the novel, they hope to one day be reunited.
It was first announced way back in June 2014 that Nyong'o had secured the rights to Americanah. Of the forthcoming adaptation, Nyong'o told The Guardian:
"It is such an honor to have the opportunity to bring Ms. Adichie's brilliant book to the screen. Page after page, I was struck by Ifemelu and Obinze's stories, whose experiences as African immigrants are so specific and also so imminently relatable. It is a thrilling challenge to tell a truly international story so full of love, humor and heart."
A post shared by Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo) on Jan 11, 2018 at 12:32pm PST
In December 2014, it was announced that Nyong'o's Queen of Katwe co-star David Oyelowo had signed on to play the male lead in Americanah, but there's no word on whether he is still attached to the production.
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