Photo credit: Jason Laveris/Filmmagic
It’s official! Shondaland has a new home.
On Monday, it was announced that television powerhouse Shonda Rhimes has signed a huge multi-year production deal with streaming giant Netflix. In her 15-year relationship with ABC studios, Rhimes has produced the network’s hit Thursday-night lineup: “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Scandal”, and “How To Get Away With Murder.”
While Rhimes will be exclusively developing new series for Netflix, her current three shows, as well as shows already in development, including a “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off, will remain at ABC studios.
“Shondaland’s move to Netflix is the result of a shared plan Ted Sarandos and I built based on my vision for myself as a storyteller and for the evolution of my company,” Rhimes said in a statement.
“Ted provides a clear, fearless space for creators at Netflix. He understood what I was looking for — the opportunity to build a vibrant new storytelling home for writers with the unique creative freedom and instantaneous global reach provided by Netflix’s singular sense of innovation. The future of Shondaland at Netflix has limitless possibilities.”
Rhimes, whose ABC contract expires in June 2018, started her television career with ABC and became the first African American woman to create and executive produce a Top 10 network series with her first show “Grey’s Anatomy.” Netflix already streams older episodes of Rhimes’ ABC Thursday-night lineup and is looking forward to adding original series from Shondaland to their digital platform.
“Shonda Rhimes is one of the greatest storytellers in the history of television,”said Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, in a statement.
“Her work is gripping, inventive, pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, taboo-breaking television at its best. I’ve gotten the chance to know Shonda and she’s a true Netflixer at heart — she loves TV and films, she cares passionately about her work, and she delivers for her audience. We’re so excited to welcome her to Netflix.”
Congratulations, Shonda! We can’t to see all the magic that you and your team will bring to the streaming world.