The Nigerwife is in development at HBO, spearheaded by Insecure alum Amy Aniobi.
Aniobi is working with author Vanessa Walters to develop a drama based on Walters’ upcoming book, The Nigerwife, Deadline reports. Aniobi has acquired the book’s rights for her production company SuperSpecial. Aniobi and Walters are set to executive produce with SuperSpecial’s Aanch Khaneja co-executive producing.
Aniobi wrote on Instagram:
“When I read the work of @vanessawaltersb, I felt chills – her writing is dark, funny, sensual, with heart, suspense and sardonic humor. I’m obsessed!! So it’s absolutely thrilling that she chose me, @aanch and team @superspecial to shepherd this project alongside the best execs in town at @hbo . We can barely wait to introduce the world to the Nigerwife. Stay tuned!!”
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Walters' novel will be released June 2023 from Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
The Nigerwife follows Nicole Oruwari, a woman who looks like she has a perfect life. To quote Deadline, Nicole has “a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of glittering Lagos, Nigeria, and a glamorous, highly-exclusive group of friends.” Oruwari, originally from the UK and a mother of two young children, has become a “Nigerwife,” a foreign wife of a Nigerian man. But when she goes missing, the cracks in her life begin to reveal themselves. “When Nicole projects an image of effortless wealth and happiness, a very different picture soon begins to emerge–one of depression, isolation, and even violence,” according to the description.
Aniobi has other projects in the works; she is also working on two feature films and is creating projects for HBO and HBO Max under her overall deal.
She is currently developing the series Enjoy Your Meal, which will focus on food media scandals of 2020.
Aniobi also had the HBO limited series The Dolls, announced in 2018.
