Mattel has joined forces with Amazon MGM Studios to create a show inspired by the Shani dolls, which were first released in the early 1990s. The project will be led by Janine Nabers as showrunner, while Jennifer Breslow from Mattel Studios will supervise development on behalf of the company.
Conceived as a family-focused dramedy built around Shani as an inspiring lead character, the series would represent Mattel’s first high-end scripted television venture if it moves forward.
The Shani dolls were originally designed by Kitty Black Perkins and introduced in 1991 to address criticism that Barbie lacked cultural representation and diversity. Although the standalone line was eventually discontinued, Shani and her friends were later folded into the broader Barbie universe.
