Television goddess and all-round superstar Shonda Rhimes has joined Netflix in a multi-year deal that will see the showrunner, writer and producer create new shows and other projects for the streaming website.
While Netflix will primarily see the arrival of Shonda Rhimes as yet further proof of their burgeoning dominance of the medium, they will also regard this as the perfect response to Disney’s recent decision to pull its content from the streaming site by 2019. Shonda Rhimes has repeatedly had huge success with ABC, which is owned by Disney, over the years, writing and producing the likes of Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy and How To Get Away With Murder.
These shows will still air on ABC for the foreseeable future, but Rhimes is already excitingly looking ahead to her future with Netflix. Shonda Rhimes wasted no time in explaining why working with Netflix was such an attractive proposition, calling it a “clear, fearless space for creators.” It’s not just Shonda Rhimes that has joined Netflix, though, as her Shondaland production company and her longtime producing partner Betsy Beers, will now also work extensively with the site. We can only dream of the Netflix originals to come.
While there will be no immediate repercussions for ABC’s lineup, the fact that Rhimes’ attention will undoubtedly be more focused on her new venture rather than Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, For The People and a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, will be of concern for the company.
ABC made a huge effort to keep hold of Shonda Rhimes, as they were very much aware that Netflix had amassed a substantial bid to try and lure their prized asset away. ABC eventually realized that they couldn’t keep hold of Rhimes, though, and, according to the LA Times, even decided to release her a year early from her contract.
