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Netflix snags ABC's Shonda Rhimes, the showrunner behind Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

August 14, 2017 | 2 min read

Netflix has tapped ABC’s long-time showrunner Shonda Rhimes as the company wholeheartedly looks to fast-track its original content one week after Disney announced an exodus from the video-streaming service.

Greys Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy is on its 14th season

Rhimes, the mind behind some of ABC’s top rated shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How To Get Away With Murder, has been at the broadcaster for over a decade, with a spin off called For The People and a spin-off for Grey’s Anatomy coming up.

On her jump to Netflix, she said: “Shondaland’s move to Netflix is the result of a shared plan Ted Sarandos (Netflix chief content officer) and I built based on my vision for myself as a storyteller and for the evolution of my company.

“Ted provides a clear, fearless space for creators at Netflix. He understood what I was looking for — the opportunity to build a vibrant new storytelling home for writers with the unique creative freedom and instantaneous global reach provided by Netflix’s singular sense of innovation. The future of Shondaland at Netflix has limitless possibilities.”

Sarandos, added: “I’ve gotten the chance to know Shonda and she’s a true Netflixer at heart — she loves TV and films, she cares passionately about her work, and she delivers for her audience.”

The move comes after Disney pulled away from Netflix in favour of its own global subscription service. Perhaps in response to this, Netflix is acquiring talent, last week snapping up comic book writer Mark Millar’s Millarword, the studio behind work like Kick-Ass, Kingsmen and Wanted.

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