“Harriet” and “Doctor Sleep” actor Zackary Momoh will star alongside Lupita Nyong’o in limited series “Americanah” at HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s forthcoming streaming service.
Executive produced and written by Danai Gurira, “Americanah” is based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name and “tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh),” according to the streamer.
“Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west. Ifemelu heads for America, where she finds academic success, but is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black,” according to the film’s official description. “Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London. A highly lauded tale that has become a leader in the cultural conversation, ‘Americanah’ is an incredible exploration of the human experience that crosses three continents to give an empathetic, compelling view of the complex realities of race, politics, immigration and identity.”
The 10-episode limited series is executive produced by Gurira, who is writing the pilot and will act as showrunner, along with Nyong’o for Eba Productions, Plan B Entertainment, Andrea Calderwood for Potboiler Television, Didi Rea and Danielle Del for D2 Productions and Nancy Won.
HBO Max will launch in May and cost $14.99 a month, the same price as an HBO subscription on either HBO Now or through a pay TV provider.
Momoh’s recent film credits include “Harriet” and “The Shining” sequel, “Doctor Sleep.” On the TV side, he is known for his role in Netflix’s “Seven Seconds” and the BAFTA-nominated police drama series “No Offense.” He will next be seen in HBO’s upcoming sci-fi drama “The Nevers” from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Joss Whedon.
He is repped by Identity Agency Group (UK), United Talent Agency, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren & Richman.