Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira’s ‘Americanah’ adaptation gets series order at HBO Max
Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira. Image: Robyn Beck / AFP
“Black Panther” stars Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira will reunite for a drama based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel.
HBO Max has ordered ten episodes of the limited series.
Lupita Nyong’o (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Us”) will star in “Americanah.” Danai Gurira (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Black Panther”) wrote the pilot and will serve as showrunner.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-winning 2013 novel “Americanah” centers on Nigerian-born Ifemelu (Nyong’o), who as a young girl in Nigeria, falls in love with her classmate Obinze.
Both depart their military-ruled country for the West; Ifemelu heads for university in the U.S., where, despite achieving professional success, she must grapple with racism, adversity and her own identity. Meanwhile, Obinze, denied a visa after 9/11, ends up an undocumented immigrant in London.
The series will be executive-produced by Gurira, Nyong’o for Eba Productions, Plan B Entertainment, Andrea Calderwood for Potboiler Television, Didi Rea and Danielle Del for D2 Productions, and Nancy Won. NVG
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