HBO Max has scrapped plans for the series adaptation of the Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie novel “Americanah” following Lupita Nyong’o being forced to exit due to scheduling conflicts.
The project had Nyong’o set to star and Danai Gurira serving as writer while both would executive produce. It was originally going to shoot earlier this year, however the COVID-19 pandemic delayed production dates and Nyong’o then had to depart.
Nyong’o would have played Ifemelu, 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 (she for the U.S., he for the U.K.) with very different results.
The show originally received a ten-episode straight-to-series order at the streamer last year. Uzo Aduba, Corey Hawkins, Zackary Momoh, and Tireni Oyenusi were also set to star.
Source: Variety
