Shonda Rhimes is Moving Shondaland to Netflix

RIP TGIT: Shonda Rhimes is leaving ABC to make her hit TV shows with Netflix.

The prolific producer—who spent the last 12 years at ABC creating Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder—is making the bold jump from network to streaming service after signing a multi-year deal with Netflix.

Rhimes is bringing Shondaland, her production company with partner Betsy Beers, with her to the streaming service. But not everything Shonda is Netflix bound. Meredith Grey and Olivia Pope aren’t making the big move—at least, not just yet. Entertainment Weekly reports that Rhimes’ existing series will continue to air on ABC, and only future Shondaland series will debut on the streaming network.

So why the big move? It seems that the streaming service is using flexibility and creative freedom as a bargaining chip to poach big names from big networks. The industry-shaking press release included a statement from Rhimes saying Netflix Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, “provides a clear, fearless space for creators at Netflix.”

Sarandos had some pretty nice words for the show writer as well: “Shonda Rhimes is one of the greatest storytellers in the history of television. Her work is gripping, inventive, pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, taboo-breaking television at its best.”

We’re loving all the posi-vibes between Rhimes and Netflix. But TBH, this powerhouse partnership sounds like a lot of sleepless nights. Those who have attempted to binge watch a Shonda show (me) will testify: once you start, it’s really hard to turn it off.