Lena Waithe's Production Picked Up By Amazon After Leaving Showtime

Source: PinkNews.co.uk

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the creator of The Chi has started Them with a new company. Amazon Studios recently announced through their representative that she is moving her series over to their studio, effectively ending Lena’s partnership with Showtime.

Just one year ago, her series was picked up by Showtime with a two-season order. The head of Amazon Studios, Jennifer Salke, announced on Saturday that the series would star Deborah Ayorinde as well as Ashley Thomas. The first season production will begin quite soon.

Jennifer Salke said in a statement that Lena was a fantastic writer and producer and she’ll be able to provide “authentic voices.”

Waithe stated that she was thrilled at the opportunity with Amazon Studios and was excited for what’s next. The Emmy Award-winning writer claimed she and the studio are committed to representing “underrepresented voices” on screen.

While Lena has had a career in the entertainment industry for many years, it was perhaps her gig on Master of None, where she was an actress as well as writer, that led to nationwide infamy. She was awarded an Emmy for one episode of Master Of None last season as well.

Around the same time, Lena found herself inadvertently and indirectly involved in controversy when the series’ creator, Aziz Ansari, was embroiled in a sexual misconduct controversy. The dust has settled since then, however.

Moving past the controversy, this is yet another big win for Amazon Studios, as they have continued to acquire deals with more artists. However, one deal gone bad was between the studio and Woody Allen.

Earlier this year, Woody Allen announced a lawsuit against Amazon for dropping their deal at the last minute following his alleged comments over the #MeToo allegations.

Woody, through his lawyers, accused Amazon of illegally rescinding on their pre-established deal on account of allegations they had been aware of for many years. Amazon denied these accusations, stating that they cut ties over his comments regarding the aforementioned movement for survivors of sexual assault.