The binge sessions are going to be OUT OF CONTROL.
If you’re still broken over the end of Scandal or desperately picking apart How to Get Away with Murder for clues ahead of series 5, we have some Shonda Rhimes news that’ll lessen your pain a little.
Since she signed her massive deal with Netflix last year, we wondered what new and productivity-destroying series she had in the works. Spoiler: the news is better than we thought. Shonda’s going to be bringing eight shows to Netflix, so say goodbye to your friends and family now because they’ll never see you again.
The Grey’s Anatomy showrunner and her company Shondaland have been working overtime on these new concepts, which Netflix teased in a new announcement. From historical romances perfect for Outlander fans through to the unflinching looks at the darkness in New York’s socialite scene, there’s something for everybody...
Untitled Bridgerton Project
A small part of us loves a good old historical bodice-ripping romance and it turns out even Shonda isn’t immune to their charms. If you’re a fan of Julia Quinn’s best-selling historical romances, you’re in luck as the team behind Scandal will be creating a new series described as a ‘smart feminist take on Regency England romance’.
Untitled Show 1
A little while back, a recent The Cut article about New York socialite Anna Delvey went viral with people obsessing over one of the biggest cons in history. Anna’s story, which saw her con thousands of dollars out of the elite to fund a lavish lifestyle, serves as the inspiration for this new show set in Manhattan and Shonda herself will be helming the project.
The Warmth of Other Suns
This new Netflix series is based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning book of the same name, which delves into the United States’ Great and Second Great Migration - two major moments in American history when African Americans moved en masse out of the South to try their luck around the country.
Pick & Sepulveda
Take a trip back to 1840s, when California was still a Mexican state and the US military were inching ever closer. Created by Emmy-award winner Janet Leahy, it explores the violent transition set against the beautiful backdrop of blue-sky California.
Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change
At one point, Ellen Pao was on top of the world as Reddit’s first ever female CEO but stepped down after the social media network’s users turned on her. After writing a memoir that unpicked Silicon Valley’s boys’ club mentality and her failed gender discrimination lawsuit, Shondaland’s team have decided to bring her story to life on the smaller screens.
The Residence
Love your political thrillers? Well, Shondaland now has the rights to Kate Anderson Brower’s tell-all book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House which explores what exactly goes on behind the scenes of America’s most important building.
Sunshine Scouts
The apocalypse strikes while a group of teenage girls are away at scout camp and based on that hilariously dark premise, we’re ready to sign up. A scout is always prepared and these girls will have to learn to live (and possibly die) by their Sunshine Scout Law code, in a story that’s giving us absurdist Lord of the Flies vibes.
Hot Chocolate Nutcracker
It’s been a while since we saw a good dance film or series and this documentary sounds like it’ll finally scratch that itch. Revolving around the world-renowned Debbie Allen Dance Academy, it follows the troupe’s journey to bring one of the most iconic ballets into the 21st century in a contemporary turn with a new rendition of The Nutcracker.
It was announced that Shonda would be creating new Netflix shows last August, reportedly to the tune of USD$10 million dollars a year. The deal would bring her production empire Shondaland to the network alongside her longtime collaborator executive producer Betsy Beers, following her 15 year contract with ABC to develop shows like Scandal and Grey's Anatomy which catapulted her to fame.
Shonda Rhimes said of the partnership, ‘I wanted the new Shondaland to be a place where we expand the types of stories we tell, where my fellow talented creatives could thrive and make their best work and where we as a team come to the office each day filled with excitement. Ted and Cindy and everyone at Netflix have been incredible partners in making that happen. This is Shondaland 2.0.’
Shondaland. 2.0.
None of us are ready for this.
