“Black-Ish” Creator Kenya Barris Signs $100 Million Overall Production Deal With Netflix

Kenya Barris has just signed a $100 million production deal with Netflix.⠀⠀⠀

The great mind behind TV favorites “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish” has just sealed a three-year overall deal with popular streaming service Netflix, which includes him producing exclusively for the company. If he likes the deal after the end of the three year agreement he will be able to opt for an additional two years, according to knowledgeable sources of the agreement.

Barris officially left Disney/ABC in July, but sources say that it’s actually been several months since Barris was released from his overall deal with the company. His new deal with Netflix has reportedly been solidified for some time. Some may have seen the transition coming following an internal silent uproar in March from the cast and crew of Black-ish after ABC indefinitely shelved an episode called “Please, Baby, Please.” The episode was scheduled to highlight current events, and the controversy surrounding NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest the injustice of Black lives being slain by police.

Barris told Variety at the time, “Given our creative differences, neither ABC nor I were happy with the direction of the episode and mutually agreed not to air it.”

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Nonetheless, Netflix vice president Cindy Holland says she is happy Barris is joining the team.“Kenya Barris is one of our great modern storytellers,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President of Original Content at Netflix. “Kenya uses his voice to make audiences more aware of the world around them, while simultaneously making them laugh. His honesty, comedic brilliance and singular point of view, combined with the creative freedom he will enjoy at Netflix, promises to create powerful new stories for all our members around the world.”