Variety is reporting that Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira’s Americanah series adaptation is no longer moving forward at HBO Max. The outlet shares that Nyong’o, who was set to star in and executive produce “was forced to exit the series” after production dates were pushed back due to the ongoing pandemic and conflicting with Nyong’o’s schedule on other projects. Gurira was attached as showrunner, writer, and EP for the series.
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The series adaptation was based on author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name (which you can order here). Americanah tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze. Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London.
The novel is a highly lauded tale that has become a leader in the cultural conversation and is an incredible exploration of the human experience that crosses three continents to give an empathetic, compelling view of the complex realities of race, politics, immigration, and identity.
Along with Oscar winner Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), the series was set to star Emmy winner Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black, Tony Award nominee Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), Zackary Momoh (Doctor Sleep), and Tireni Oyenusi (A True Crime).
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The long-time passion project of Nyong’o’s originally received a 10-episode straight-to-series order at the streamer. Nyong’o had been developing the adaptation since 2014 with D2 Productions, Plan B Entertainment, and Potboiler Television.
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