Netflix has signed writer and producer Kenya Barris to an exclusive multiyear deal. Barris is known for his ABC comedy series Black-ish and its spin-off series Grown-ish on Freeform. He also wrote the comedy movie Girl’s Trip and will now produce new television series for the streaming service.
“Kenya uses his voice to make audiences more aware of the world around them, while simultaneously making them laugh. He is one of our great modern storytellers,” said Netflix VP of original content, Cindy Holland.
In May, ABC cancelled one of its hit shows, Roseanne, after its star, Roseanne Barr, posted a racist tweet. Things soured after the network passed on several of his new shows. Barris was negotiating an early exit with ABC for months. The move was highly expected, and finally Netflix announced the deal signed.
With his new deal, he joins Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes, two producers who also left their network television homes to join the free-spending streaming service and the creative freedoms it offers. Barris is the latest high-profile producer to join Netflix. Last year, the company signed creator Rhimes, whose credits include Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal to an exclusive deal, and earlier this year it landed Murphy, the producer behind FX’s American Horror Story.