The part-Middle Eastern star is set to executive produce and develop an on-screen adaptation of Cole Brown’s critically-acclaimed debut book 'Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World'.
ABC Signature has acquired the rights to Cole Brown’s critically acclaimed debut book Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World, to develop for television. The US-Iranian actress Yara Shahidi and her business partner and mother Keri Shahidi will develop the series and executive produce via their 7th Sun Productions, as part of their overall deal with the studio. Brown also will serve as an executive producer.
“Honored to bring @coletdbrown’s incredible & nuanced telling of our stories as brown folx onto screens w/ my PARTNER IN CRIME @chocolatemommyluv! (sic)” wrote Yara Shahidi on Instagram.
“The work of displaying and celebrating the ENTIRE spectrum of our humanity continues to feel more prescient (sic),” she added.
Published in 2020, Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World is a first-hand examination of what it means to navigate the in-between.
According to the author, the book is heavily inspired by an essay he wrote in college.
“What a dream come true this is!” exclaimed Cole on Instagram. “It still astounds me to think that what began as a college essay a few years ago has made it all the way to ABC. No duo I’d rather work with to bring Greyboy to life than @yarashahidi & @chocolatemommyluv. Let’s get to work! (sic),” the author posted on social media.
The actress is also producing a new single-camera comedy series, titled Smoakland, for Freeform via her production company 7th Sun.
Yara and her mother announced the launch of their new production company in July and signed an exclusive overall deal with ABC Studios which will see them develop television projects for streaming, cable and broadcast platforms.
