Netflix Greenlights Series Adaptation of Novel Unaccustomed Earth

A drama based on Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collection, Unaccustomed Earth, has been ordered to series at Netflix. The series hails from showrunner, writer and executive producer John Wells and writer/executive producer Madhuri Shekar. The writers room has been active since February and is nearing completion of the eight-episode first season, sources close to the production say.



The official description reads: Unaccustomed Earth is an epic and culturally vibrant drama about a tight-knit Indian-American community searching for love, desire and belonging. Rich in nuance, passion and unforgettable characters, Unaccustomed Earth invites you into the elite and isolated Indian-American community of Cambridge, MA.

When an unhappy romance between a devoted woman and her long-lost love comes to light, a scandalous affair erupts and new fronts are opened in this deeply connected immigrant community.

Wells is enjoying huge success with his new medical drama for HBO Max, The Pitt, created and executive produced by R. Scott Gemmill. The series concluded its first 15-episode season earlier this month to strong ratings and critical acclaim. Wells has been involved in a wide range of television’s biggest hits, including The West Wing, ER, Third Watch and Southland, all for NBC, Showtime’s Shameless (US) and TNT’s Animal Kingdom (2016).

Shekar’s play A Nice Indian Boy, starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, was recently adapted into a film. The film premiered at SXSW and is currently in theaters. She also wrote the film Evil Eye for Amazon and Blumhouse, starring Sunita Mani, based on her original radio play. Her produced television series include Netflix’s 3 Body Problem and HBO’s The Nevers.