HBO Max Not Moving Forward With Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira’s ‘Americanah’ Series

Variety is reporting that Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira’s series adaptation of the Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie novel “Americanah” is no longer moving ahead as planned at HBO Max, has learned exclusively.

The project originally received a 10-episode straight-to-series order at the streamer last year. Both Nyong’o and Gurira were to serve as executive producers on the show, with Nyong’o starring and Gurira writing and serving as showrunner.

“Americanah” was originally meant to start shooting earlier this year, but the production dates were pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, Nyong’o was then forced to drop out of the series as it conflicted with other projects on her schedule.

Along with Nyong’o, the series was set to star Uzo Aduba, Corey Hawkins, Zackary Momoh, and Tireni Oyenusi. It 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 (Momoh). 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.