Kenya Barris: Charting New Paths with WME

December 21, 2023
John Dody

Kenya Barris, the Emmy-winning dynamo behind the television hit ‘Black-ish’, has made a significant move in his career by signing with WME, after a fruitful stint with CAA. Barris’s transition to WME comes as he continues to solidify his status as one of the most prolific writers and producers in the industry.

📺 A Legacy with ‘Black-ish’: Barris’s ‘Black-ish’ concluded its successful run in 2022, leaving behind a legacy as a groundbreaking network comedy. The show, celebrated for its insightful humor and cultural impact, earned multiple Emmy nominations for Best Comedy. Its spin-off, ‘Grown-ish’, continues to capture audiences on Freeform, with its final season set to air in 2024.

🎥 Making Waves in Film: On the film front, Barris has been equally impactful. He recently produced and wrote the reboot of 20th Century’s ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ and directed, wrote, and produced the Netflix comedy ‘You People’, starring Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill. The latter has emerged as one of Netflix’s top titles of the year.

🚀 Expanding Horizons with Khalabo Ink Society: Barris’s production company, Khalabo Ink Society, is venturing into new domains. Their first podcast, ‘DJ Drama presents Gangsta Grillz’, released under their deal with Audible, marks their foray into the audio space. Additionally, they’ve produced the Emmy-winning animated program ‘Entergalactic’ and the Tribeca-premiered Netflix documentary ‘Civil: Ben Crump’.

📅 Upcoming Projects: Barris’s slate for early 2024 is packed with exciting projects. These include the Snoop Dogg-led ‘Underdoggs’ from Amazon MGM, Netflix’s ‘The Vince Staples Show’, and BET+’s ‘Diarra From Detroit’.

Kenya Barris’s move to WME is more than just a change of representation; it’s a strategic step towards broader creative horizons. As he continues to push the boundaries of storytelling across multiple platforms, the industry eagerly awaits the innovative and culturally resonant content that has become his signature. 🎥🌐🎬

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