Insecure fans will undoubtedly recognize Natasha Rothwell as Kelli, the outspoken and non-nonsense hilarious friend on HBO comedy. However, Rothwell’s talents go well beyond acting. She also produces the series, is an acclaimed writer, and directed one of the best episodes of the show. With the final forthcoming season Insecure on the horizon, Rothwell is ready to soar.
Deadline is reporting that she signed a multi-year overall deal with ABC Signature. The deal is in partnership with Disney General Entertainment’s BIPOC Creator Initiative led by Tara Duncan. Under her new deal, Rothwell will develop new projects for television with her company, Big Hattie Productions.
In addition to Insecure, Rothwell has written for Saturday Night Live and wrote and starred in the original sketch series Netflix Presents: The Characters. She was also seen in the films, Love, Simon, Sonic The Hedgehog and Wonder Woman 1984.
“Natasha is the real deal triple threat. I’ve been a fan of her writing for years and have loved watching her career blossom in front of and behind the camera,” Duncan said. “It’s an honor to provide a platform for one of the best comedic talents in the business.”
Jonnie Davis, President, ABC Signature added, “I echo Tara’s sentiments – we love Natasha and are so excited she will join the ABC Signature family,” said Jonnie Davis, President, ABC Signature. “This is a coup for our studio, and we’re honored to support this gifted storyteller as she sets out not just to entertain but to change the television landscape for the better.”
There are no financial details about the deal available to the public, but it is said to be a three-year-pact in the eight-figure range.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be starting this next chapter with ABC Signature! I’m beyond grateful to have the incomparable Tara Duncan in my corner along with Jonnie Davis and Tracy Underwood, who have welcomed me into the Disney Family with open arms,” Rothwell said in a statement. “It was important to me to find a studio partner that would not only honor my vision and my voice as a storyteller, but also one that shared my hunger for stories that broaden the limited scope with which BIPOCs have traditionally been viewed–– stories where our humanity isn’t a plot point or up for debate but it’s understood, celebrated and explored in new and interesting ways. That’s why I’m so thrilled to be partnering with ABC Signature, and to have the opportunity to tell thoughtful, nuanced stories that center marginalized voices–– stories that dare to subvert expectations all under the banner of Big Hattie Productions. Y’all better buckle up.”
Rothwell was named a 2021 Sundance Screenwriters Lab Fellow for her script Black Comic-Con. She is currently writing a coming-of-age feature, We Were There, Too with Gloria Calderón-Kellett for HBO Max. She will also star in The White Lotus, a limited series written and directed by Mike White for HBO.
