As announced in August 2017, Shonda Rhimes’ upcoming projects will be a part of an exclusive partnership with Netflix. Netflix’s official announcement stated that Rhimes will be bringing herself, her Shondaland production company and longtime production partner, Betsy Beers, to their platform as part of the deal. The success of Netflix originals paired with the success of Rhimes’ past and ongoing projects has many excited for this deal.
Shonda Rhimes’ ability to create cult followings with her projects has been evident since the first season of Grey’s Anatomy in 2005. Since then, ABC has introduced Thank God it’s Thursday, a block of programming dedicated exclusively to the Shondaland shows “Grey’s Anatomy,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” and “Scandal.” Fortunately for fans, TGIT will continue unaffected by Rhimes’ Netflix partnership.
“Shonda Rhimes is one of the greatest storytellers in the history of television,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, at the time of the announcement.
“Her work is gripping, inventive, pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, taboo-breaking television at its best.”
As of right now, Rhimes is working on eight series, many of which are quite different from one another. One currently untitled series is based on the New York Magazine article “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People,” about a scheming socialite. Another series is based on and named after “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson, which tells the story of the Great Migration. The other series are entitled “Pico & Sepulveda,” “Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change,” “The Residence” “Sunshine Scouts,” and “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker.” There is also another yet-to-be-titled series based on Julia Quinn’s novel series about the drama of relationships in high-society London.
