ABC Signature and Disney General Entertainment’s BIPOC Creator Initiative Sign Natasha Rothwell to Joint Overall Deal

Natasha Rothwell has signed a new, multiyear overall deal with ABC Signature in conjunction with Disney General Entertainment’s BIPOC Creator Initiative, led by Tara Duncan. Under the terms of the agreement, Rothwell will develop new projects for television through her production company, Big Hattie Productions.

“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,” said Rothwell. “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.”

“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,” stated Duncan. “It’s an honor to provide a platform for one of the best comedic talents in the business.”

“I echo Tara’s sentiments; we love Natasha and are so excited she will join the ABC Signature family. 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,” said Jonnie Davis, president, ABC Signature.

For the last five years, Natasha Rothwell has been a series regular and producer on Issa Rae’s Peabody Award-winning HBO series “Insecure,” for which she has been twice nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Before that, Rothwell wrote for Saturday Night Live and went on to write and star in the original sketch series “Netflix Presents: The Characters.” She can also be seen in the groundbreaking films “Love, Simon,” “Sonic The Hedgehog” and “Wonder Woman 1984.”

Rothwell was named a 2021 Sundance Screenwriters Lab Fellow for her script “Black Comic-Con,” and she is writing the coming-of-age feature “We Were There, Too,” with Gloria Calderón-Kellett for HBO Max. Rothwell will also star in “The White Lotus,” a limited series written and directed by Mike White for HBO, and leads the cast of “Malltown,” an animated series she is executive producing alongside Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer. Rothwell has also voiced characters on “DuckTales,” “Bojack Horseman,” “Tuca & Bertie,” “American Dad,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “The Simpsons.” She is currently the voice of Mommy Shark in the Nickelodeon series “Baby Shark.”

Additionally, Rothwell lent her voice to the Planned Parenthood documentary “Ours To Tell,” directed by Academy Award®-winner Rayka Zehtabchi. Her fight for our right to bodily autonomy over the years earned her the 2020 Planned Parenthood Champion of Reproductive Health Award. Her advocacy is also expressed through her continued support of the HRC, ACLU, SPLC and RAINN, Emily’s List, and volunteering at the Downtown Women’s Center. She continues to be a staunch advocate for the arts and arts education—having worked with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, KIPP NYC College Prep High School, Arena Stage, Los Angeles Public Libraries, The Young Storytellers and The Story Pirates.

Rothwell is repped by CAA, Edna Cowan Management, Sechel PR, and attorney Michael Auerbach.

Media Contact
Kristen Andersen
kristen.andersen@disney.com