The Americanah TV series adaptation, starring Lupita Nyong’o and written by Danai Gurira, has been ordered by HBO Max. The 10-episode show will also have Gurira as showrunner. Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s third novel, which won the National Book Critics’ Circle Award for Fiction in 2014 and has been suggested to be her “signature novel,” the adaptation has had a talked-about journey since the book was optioned by Nyong’o in 2014, with Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B getting involved and the story getting a concept trailer. It was originally going to be a film, with David Oyelowo starring.
Nyong’o, through her Eba Productions, Gurira, Andrea Calderwood of Potboiler Television, Didi Rea and Danielle Del of D2 Productions and Nancy Won will be executive producers. Plan B will be a producer as well.
“Americanah has been a passion project for me since I read Chimamanda’s beautiful novel in 2013,” Nyong’o told Variety. “It’s a tale that is simultaneously timely and timeless. HBO Max is the perfect partner to bring this profound and celebrated story to life, and I’m thrilled that Danai will bring to the project her intelligence, wit, and understanding of the stories and the worlds of Americanah.”
“Through Americanah, Chimamanda brought the African female voice into mainstream consciousness in an unprecedented way,” Gurira said. “It is intellectually incisive, indicting, yet full of humor, and riddled with humanity. She makes unheard voices familiar, universal and yet palpably specific. I am honored to bring her incredible novel to life on the screen. I’m thrilled to collaborate once again with Lupita who brings her astounding ability as a performer and producer shepherding this project, along with HBO MAX’s unbridled enthusiasm to bring this groundbreaking narrative to the TV audience.”
“Americanah has sparked a cultural phenomenon and is revered by fans around the world,” HBO Max Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey said. “It has affected me deeply as one of the most moving, socially relevant and romantic stories of our time. With exceptional talent like Lupita and Danai in front of and behind the camera, this series will give viewers a uniquely heartfelt and unforgettable experience.”
However, the HBO development hasn’t been completely well received. Recall the Nigerian controversy that followed Biyi Bandele’s casting of the Zimbabwean-British Thandie Newton as Olanna in his 2013 Half of a Yellow Sun film? And how Newton’s “keda” accent rubbed Igbo watchers the wrong way? Nyong’o is of course Kenyan-Mexican—and Gurira is Zimbabwean-American—so a few Nigerians are kicking it up again.
Let’s settle this matter once and for all
Who do you think should play americanah for HBO?
Like for Genevieve nnanji
Retweet for lupita nyong’o pic.twitter.com/UvAH3pgo0f— Akinbobola🇳🇬 (@ak_bob47) September 14, 2019
They need to stop doing this. We have fine actresses from Nigeria who can play these roles better. Lupita is good but try other people who are Nigerians. What, she’s going to be told or taught how to speak Half-baked Igbo instead of A real Nigerian? https://t.co/lo0eoPSjwL
— ALMOST A BILLIONAIRE (@MeetHajaar) September 14, 2019
Nse Ekpe Etim , Stephanie Okereke , Yvonne Orji and Genevieve Nnaji . These four women can have parts in “Americanah” . Theres more talent in Africa than Danai and Lupita please.@ChimamandaReal true representation matters .
— Tunmix ✨ (@tunmiike_a) September 14, 2019
On Brittle Paper‘s tweet of the Americanah news, the actress and Nollywood icon Stella Damasus commented in that direction. The novelist Chika Unigwe replied, and so it started: a to and fro about representation and Nollywood.
They are playing Igbo characters and we are celebrating? Really? What happened to Genevieve? What about RITA DOMINIC? Stephanie OKEREKE LINUS nko? Abeg make una shift.
— Stella Damasus (@stelladamasus) September 18, 2019
I would have responded to you but clearly you have no idea about NOLLYWOOD and some of its challenges so I will spare myself the trouble.
— Stella Damasus (@stelladamasus) September 18, 2019
Finally, if you are telling our story especially when it’s cultural, we have a right to ask why the representation is not what we expect. How can we finally get bankable box office faces if we are not involved in telling our own stories?
— Stella Damasus (@stelladamasus) September 19, 2019
I can also tell you that each time my agents have been approached for movie rights to my novel, it hasn’t been by a Nigerian production company . The people who have optioned it are not Nigerian. Will they cast Naija actresses? Will I tell them who to cast? Should I?
— chika unigwe (@chikaunigwe) September 18, 2019
HP film rights were bought by David Heymann, an English film producer…
— chika unigwe (@chikaunigwe) September 19, 2019
There are HOLLWOOD African actors and there are NOLLYWOOD actors. We are all supposed to be one but the reality is different inside the industry. Let’s be real and honest for once.
— Stella Damasus (@stelladamasus) September 18, 2019
Stella, the problem is not about Genevieve or Stephanie Okereke playing the role. It’s more than that. Do you know how many beautiful Nigerian novels should be adapted to movies and Nollywood never thinks of doing so? Moreover, a book can be adapted twice.
— Michael Chiedoziem Chukwudera (@ChukwuderaEdozi) September 18, 2019
Your reading of a Nollywood slight here seems rather extraneous. Was Chika’s “I can only hope that they make a good movie since the book is still my baby,” not a broad wish no matter who optioned the book? Doesn’t all of it still boil down to who pays the piper, not nationality?
— Davina Owombre (@dee_owombre) September 19, 2019
Did Nollywood approach Chimamanda about the book? Did anybody in the Nigerian film industry act like it even existed?
— Kanyinsola. The Thinking Bee. (@K_tops) September 18, 2019
What you are doing is explaining why you can’t do it. Doesn’t explain why the people who can should do if the way you want and not the way they want. Still changes nothing. The simple rule still stands. He who pays the piper…
— Ekpeki Oghenechovwe (Eminently Qualified) (@PenPrince_NSA) September 19, 2019
That the movie is being made is what I care about. The story is being told. I’d rather others tell the story and tell it well than it not being told at all.
We should ease up on this world’s concept of “ours” versus “theirs”…— Kenechi 🇳🇬 🇺🇸 (@kenechiuzor) September 19, 2019
Actually, Stephanie does. Even more than Lupita.
— Michael Chiedoziem Chukwudera (@ChukwuderaEdozi) September 18, 2019
*doesn’t
— DenetO (@denetodhiambo) September 18, 2019
I aspire to your level of patience when someone is so needlessly condescending and rude.
— Davina Owombre (@dee_owombre) September 19, 2019
Elsewhere:
Nigerians can really be entitled! Where were you guys when Lupita bought the rights to make a film adaptation of Chimamanda’s Americanah?pic.twitter.com/1SCfUxrvPE
— Odogwu Funds (@TweetAtAustin) September 14, 2019
The Americanah story is really a masterpiece and it’s sad that no one in the Nigerian movie industry was thinking as fast as Lupita
— RAY (@ofure__) September 14, 2019
There are more Novels, stories and historical incidents from Nigeria & Africa that can be adapted into movies. But no, Nollywood will keep recycling the same storylines. When Hollywood decides to tell the story, y’all start making demands. Nkechi should be picked over Lupita? 🤣
— FAVOUR ONYEOZIRI (@LifeOfRouvafe) September 14, 2019
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