Netflix’s ambitious designs

The Academy Awards as well as some filmmakers can continue to debate whether releasing content on Netflix is a good idea or a bad one but the streaming giant doesn’t seem to care too much. Among latest announcements is the fact that ABC original series, Designated Survivor, is set to return with its third season, after moving on from Hulu to Netflix.The political drama starring Kiefer Sutherland hasn’t had the best luck but has enough. However, that could change with Netflix taking on a role and with ABC no longer involved. According to Deadline, “The third season of the series, which stars Kiefer Sutherland, will have a new showrunner Neal Baer (Law & Order: SVU). The core cast of the series, including Sutherland, Kal Penn, Adan Canto and Italia Ricci are set to return, with Maggie Q in talks to join them. Production on Season 3 is set to begin later this year for a 2019 premiere.”That’s not all the streaming platform has been up to since it closed a “a multi-year deal with The C.S. Lewis Company to develop new series and film projects based on Lewis’ popular The Chronicles of Narnia books,” noted Deadline. The publication added: “The deal marks the first time that rights to the entire seven books of the Narnia universe have been held by the same company.”Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix, said on the subject, “C.S. Lewis’ beloved Chronicles of Narnia stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world. Families have fallen in love with characters like Aslan and the entire world of Narnia, and we’re thrilled to be their home for years to come.”“It is wonderful to know that folks from all over are looking forward to seeing more of Narnia, and that the advances in production and distribution technology have made it possible for us to make Narnian adventures come to life all over the world,” said Douglas Gresham, stepson of C.S. Lewis. “Netflix seems to be the very best medium with which to achieve this aim, and I am looking forward to working with them towards this goal.”The real goal, it seems, for Netflix is to create a cross-over film/TV universe akin to Marvel and Star Trek. It is also interesting to note that just when Amazon closed the deal and has ordered a prolific Lord of the Rings TV series in a mega deal with the J.R.R. Tolkien estate, Netflix has struck one with C.S. Lewis estate. As for the rest of it, according to a report in Bloomberg, the streaming platform is working on ways to roll out interactive “features on shows including Black Mirror that will enable viewers to choose their own endings.”Added Deadline: “While plenty of reality series have incorporated interactive elements for years now, the scripted realm faces hurdles to wider deployment of choose-your-own-ending storytelling. In addition to the technology requirements, it requires more extensive scripts and produced scenes. That can present budget and labor challenges for producers.”– With information from Deadline

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