The Shani Doll Takes Center Stage with Upcoming Live-Action Series

The Shani doll is poised for a significant resurgence, potentially captivating a new generation of fans.

Variety has exclusively reported that Mattel has partnered with Amazon MGM Studios to bring a live-action series based on the Shani doll line, which first hit the shelves in the early 1990s.

Janine Nabers, who has secured her third overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios, is set to serve as the showrunner. Overseeing the project for Mattel Studios will be Jennifer Breslow, head of both scripted and unscripted television at the company.

This forthcoming series is characterized as a “family dramedy centered around the aspirational character of Shani.” If the project moves forward, it will mark Mattel’s debut in the realm of premium scripted television.

Originally launched in 1991, the Shani doll line was designed by Kitty Black Perkins to address the criticism that Barbie dolls lacked diversity and did not accurately reflect Black identities. Although the Shani line was eventually phased out, the character was integrated into the broader Barbie collection.

The announcement of the Shani series follows Mattel’s tremendous success with the recent “Barbie” film, which starred Margot Robbie and was directed by Greta Gerwig. The movie achieved a box office gross nearing $1.5 billion globally in 2023 and garnered eight Academy Award nominations, including a win for best original song, and a Golden Globe in the same category.

Nabers recently co-created the Amazon series “Swarm” alongside Donald Glover, earning an Emmy nomination for outstanding writing in a limited series. She previously collaborated with Glover on the acclaimed FX series “Atlanta,” where she contributed as a writer and co-executive producer during the show’s final two seasons. Nabers has an impressive portfolio that includes work on HBO’s “Watchmen,” as well as projects like Netflix’s “Away” and Lifetime/Hulu’s “UnREAL.” Additionally, she is a recognized playwright, known for critical works such as “Annie Bosh is Missing,” “Serial Black Face,” and “A Swell in the Ground.”

Nabers is represented by WME and Hansen Jacobson.