The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira signs new deal with ABC Studios

The Walking Dead fans will miss Danai Gurira but she will be creating some exciting new projects as part of her deal with ABC Studios.

Disney is doubling down on the multi-faceted talents of Danai Gurira. According to THR Disney-owned ABC Studios has reached a two year deal with Danai that will give her the space to use all of her talents. She will be creating, developing, writing, and producing projects that will span all of Disney’s content platforms. She may be acting in some as well, although that wasn’t specified as part of the deal.

Danai is already showrunner and executive producer for a new series that will air on HBO Max, Americanah. She also wrote Americanah, adapting the book of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for TV. The series stars Lupita Nyong’o.

Speaking about the deal the head of ABC Studios, Jonnie Davis said:

"“From Zimbabwe to Wakanda to Broadway, there is no one like Danai Gurira. The scope of her talents and the breadth of her abilities are simply astonishing. We are over the moon that she has chosen to make ABC Studios her exclusive home.”"

Gurira also seems happy about the deal and optimistic about the opportunities to flex her creative talents. She said:

"“I am thrilled to work with Jonnie and his stellar team at ABC Studios. Their commitment to the feminine perspective aligns with my goals as a storyteller. I am excited to amplify unheard voices and bring to light narratives that will tackle universal themes while they simultaneously break barriers and bring new faces, voices and influences to the screen.”"

It makes sense that Disney would want to Danai in the Disney family and it will be exciting to see how she uses her considerable talents in her goals of giving women more of a voice and telling the stories of traditionally marginalized people. That doesn’t mean that losing Michonne on The Walking Dead won’t hurt though.

What Does This Mean For The Walking Dead Movies?

Don’t rule out Danai’s possible involvement in The Walking Dead movies just because of her expanding opportunities. There’s always the possibility that schedules can be juggled to allow her to continue Michonne’s story in The Walking Dead films about Rick Grimes.

Since Disney’s content strategy is shifting to focus more on developing content for multiple platforms, including its own broadcast channels and streaming platforms the pace of the development of new shows will be different than the pace of filming for traditional format shows and films. That flexibility should make it possible for Danai to continue to be part of The Walking Dead world even as she works to tell other stories and explore other characters.