Netflix CEO Reed Hastings unveiled a hefty slate of European productions in Berlin on Wednesday, including new series with Canal Plus and the BBC.
Hastings also said the streaming giant has invested more than $1.75bn in European content, including licensed and original productions and co-productions, since 2012. The slate of originals includes more than 90 titles in various stages of development and production.
New co-productions on Netflix’s slate include Troy: Fall Of A City, Black Earth Rising and The Spy, which it is co-producing with BBC One, BBC Two and Canal Plus respectively (see full details below).
Other European co-productions on the company’s slate include Marcella (ITV), Kiss Me First (Channel 4), Watership Down (BBC), La Catedral del Mar (Antena 3), Rita (TV2 Denmark) and El Ministerio del Tiempo (RTVE). Meanwhile, the second season of Netflix’s French series Marseille is scheduled to start shooting on April 18 in Marseille.
Netflix also unveiled images and footage from Dark, its first original series from Germany; crime thriller series Suburra from Italy; and Spanish 1920-set romantic drama Las Chicas del Cable.
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos stressed that the company’s European content is also being viewed outside Europe. “After four years of original programming and filming in 18 countries, we know compelling stories can come from anywhere and no matter their origin, can resonate with audiences around the world,” Sarandos said.
“In fact, of the European shows available on Netflix last year, more than half of watchers came from outside of Europe, which is why we are confident our upcoming slate of international shows will be enjoyed by viewers in their home countries and beyond.”
NEW NETFLIX EUROPEAN CO-PRODUCTIONS:
Troy: Fall Of A City – epic tale of love, revenge and intrigue centered around the events of the Trojan War and the love affair between Paris and Helen. Written by David Farr (The Night Manager) and directed by Owen Harris (Black Mirror: San Junipero). Produced with the BBC and UK producers Wild Mercury in association with Kudos. The series is due to start filming on location in South Africa in March and will premiere in the UK on BBC One and globally outside of the UK on Netflix.
Black Earth Rising – a thriller about the prosecution of international war crimes and the personal, legal and political turmoil it ignites. Written and directed by Hugo Blick (Honourable Woman) and produced with the BBC and Greg Brenman’s Drama Republic. The series will premiere in the UK on BBC Two and globally outside of the UK on Netflix.
The Spy – true story of Israel’s most prominent spy Eli Cohen, an Egyptian Jew, who in the beginning of the 60s operated undercover in Syria. The series, from French producer Alain Goldman’s Legende Films (La Vie en Rose) and written and directed by Gideon Raff (Homeland), will premiere in France on Canal Plus and globally outside of France on Netflix.