In a shocking move, Shonda Rhimes has ditched ABC and signed a multiyear deal with streaming giant Netflix.
Rhimes has boosted ABC’s viewership, bringing the network into the golden age of television, with hit shows Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder and Grey’s Anatomy. The network even coined ‘’TGIT” to celebrate the Thursday night block of Rhimes’ successful shows.
The showrunner’s multiyear deal with Netflix will see her creating original content for the streaming service. In a statement, Rhimes said, “Shondaland’s move to Netflix is the result of a shared plan Ted Sarandos and I built based on my vision for myself as a storyteller and for the evolution of my company. Ted provides a clear, fearless space for creators at Netflix. He understood what I was looking for —the opportunity to build a vibrant new storytelling home for writers with the unique creative freedom and instantaneous global reach provided by Netflix’s singular sense of innovation. The future of Shondaland at Netflix has limitless possibilities.”
With Shondaland headed to Netflix, fans might be worried about the fate of Rhimes’ existing shows, but fear not, they will still air on ABC. Grey’s, Scandal and HTGAWM will continue to air on ABC and stream at later dates on Netflix like they currently do.
Scandal’s upcoming seventh season is also set to be its last, while the future of Grey’s Anatomy and How To Get Away With Murder seem to hold a few more seasons.
Grey’s star Ellen Pompeo told Variety earlier this year, “Shonda [Rhimes] and I have both said that when I’m ready to stop, we’re going to stop the show. The story is about Meredith Grey’s journey and when I’m done, the show will end… I’m really open to whatever the universe presents. I don’t know how long the show will go on. I know the network and the studio like to say they see no end in sight, but I think the audience will tell us when the show is no-longer a fan favorite. I think it’s quite arrogant to assume the show can go on forever — I don’t like that approach. Right now, we’re very lucky to have the fans still hanging on, and I think the fans will let us know when it’s time to stop the show.”
Rhimes’ move to Netflix is a big win for the company, who recently suffered from Disney announcing plans to remove its content in order to start their own streaming service. It’s also a blow to ABC as the company manages all of The Walt Disney Company’s Disney brands.
While we’re not sure what this means for the television network, Netflix fans will be able to binge new nail-biting dramas from Rhimes.