Lupita Nyong'o 'forced' to exit HBO Max series Americanah by pal Danai Gurira due to 'scheduling conflicts'

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: | Updated:

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o was 'forced' to exit the HBO Max 10-episode series Americanah she was planning to star in and executive produce with her Black Panther gal pal Danai Gurira.

'Americanah was originally meant to start shooting earlier this year, but the production dates were pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic,' an insider told Variety on Thursday.

'Nyong'o then had to drop out as it conflicted with other projects on her schedule.'

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o (R) was 'forced' to exit the HBO Max 10-episode series Americanah she was planning to star in and executive produce with her Black Panther gal pal Danai Gurira (L, pictured in 2019)

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o (R) was 'forced' to exit the HBO Max 10-episode series Americanah she was planning to star in and executive produce with her Black Panther gal pal Danai Gurira (L, pictured in 2019)

An insider told Variety on Thursday: 'Americanah was originally meant to start shooting earlier this year, but the production dates were pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nyong'o then had to drop out as it conflicted with other projects on her schedule'

An insider told Variety on Thursday: 'Americanah was originally meant to start shooting earlier this year, but the production dates were pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nyong'o then had to drop out as it conflicted with other projects on her schedule'

The Mexican-born, Kenyan-raised 37-year-old was supposed to play Ifemelu, a Nigerian woman, who moves to the United States for college and discovers 'for the first time with what it means to be Black.'

The Iowa-born, Zimbabwe-raised 42-year-old not only adapted Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013 novel for the 2021 series, she was also supposed to head up the project as showrunner.

It was a passion project for the SAG Award-winning duo, whose Americanah went from a film idea to an actual TV series over the last six years.

Lupita and Danai previously scored Tony Awards nominations in 2016 for their Broadway drama Eclipsed, which starred Nyong'o and was written by Gurira.

The Mexican-born, Kenyan-raised 37-year-old was supposed to play Ifemelu, a Nigerian woman, who moves to the United States for college and discovers 'for the first time with what it means to be Black'  (pictured in 2019)

The Mexican-born, Kenyan-raised 37-year-old was supposed to play Ifemelu, a Nigerian woman, who moves to the United States for college and discovers 'for the first time with what it means to be Black'  (pictured in 2019)

Better luck next time: The Iowa-born, Zimbabwe-raised 42-year-old not only adapted Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013 novel for the 2021 series, she was also supposed to head up the project as showrunner

Better luck next time: The Iowa-born, Zimbabwe-raised 42-year-old not only adapted Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013 novel for the 2021 series, she was also supposed to head up the project as showrunner

Second collaboration: Lupita (2-R) and Danai (M) previously scored Tony Awards nominations in 2016 for their Broadway drama Eclipsed, which starred Nyong'o and was written by Gurira

Second collaboration: Lupita (2-R) and Danai (M) previously scored Tony Awards nominations in 2016 for their Broadway drama Eclipsed, which starred Nyong'o and was written by Gurira 

Passion project: The SAG Award-winning duo had already cast their ensemble featuring Uzo Aduba (L), Corey Hawkins, Zackary Momoh, and Tireni Oyenusi (pictured in 2014)

Passion project: The SAG Award-winning duo had already cast their ensemble featuring Uzo Aduba (L), Corey Hawkins, Zackary Momoh, and Tireni Oyenusi (pictured in 2014)

The talented twosome had already cast their ensemble featuring Uzo Aduba, Corey Hawkins, Zackary Momoh, and Tireni Oyenusi.

The Star Wars stunner next plays computer specialist Khadijah in Simon Kinberg's all-female spy thriller The 355 - hitting US/UK theaters January 15 - alongside Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz, Jessica Chastain, and Bingbing Fan. 

The Walking Dead alum will next rumored appear in Adam Wingard's Kaiju action flick Godzilla vs. Kong - hitting US/UK theaters May 21 - alongside Alexander Skarsgård and Millie Bobby Brown. 

Hitting US/UK theaters January 15! The Star Wars stunner next plays computer specialist Khadijah in Simon Kinberg's all-female spy thriller The 355 alongside (from L-R) Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz, Jessica Chastain, and Bingbing Fan

Hitting US/UK theaters January 15! The Star Wars stunner next plays computer specialist Khadijah in Simon Kinberg's all-female spy thriller The 355 alongside (from L-R) Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz, Jessica Chastain, and Bingbing Fan

Htting US/UK theaters May 21! The Walking Dead alum will next rumored appear in Adam Wingard's Kaiju action flick Godzilla vs. Kong alongside Alexander Skarsgård and Millie Bobby Brown

Htting US/UK theaters May 21! The Walking Dead alum will next rumored appear in Adam Wingard's Kaiju action flick Godzilla vs. Kong alongside Alexander Skarsgård and Millie Bobby Brown

HBOLupita Nyong'oCovid-19

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