David Farnor | On 26, Jan 2020

Lupita Nyong’o, Chinonye Chukwu and Danai Gurira are teaming up for a new HBO Max series.

Called Americanah, the 10-episode drama is based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s bestselling novel. It follows Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who falls in love during her teenage years with classmate Obinze (Momoh). Living in a military-ruled country, they depart for the West, with Ifemelu heading for America and Obinze journeying to London.

Ifemelu, despite her academic success, has to grapple with what it means to black, while Obinze finds post-9/11 America closed to him, which leads him to an undocumented live in London.

The series is directed by Chuwku, who helmed death row drama Clemency, and is written and showrun by Danai Gurira.

Fresh from Little Monsters (pictured), Lupita Nyong’o will star, leading an impressive cast that includes Uzo Aduba, Corey Hawkins and Zackary Momoh. Hawkins will play Ifemelu’s boyfriend and Yale Professor, Blaine.

Plan B Entertainment is executive producing with Gurira, Nyong’o, Andrea Calderwood, Didi Rea, Danielle Del, Nancy Won and Erika L. Johnson.

“Fresh off her Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Clemency, we are thrilled to have Chinonye direct the first two episodes of Americanah.” Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max, said in a statement at this year’s winter press TCA tour. “When she spoke so passionately about what it meant to her as a Nigerian filmmaker to tell this story, we knew we had the perfect partner to work alongside Danai, Lupita and Plan B.”

The series will premiere on HBO Max in the USA, when the streaming platform launches this spring. With Sky and HBO recently announcing an extended partnership, though, it is more likely that the series will be available on Sky and NOW. Watch this space for more details.

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