Scripted original series rebounded in 2021

After a complicated 2020 in terms of production due to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the volume of adult scripted original series rebounded in a major way last year. In fact, there were 559 scripted original series for adults in 2021, according to research performed by Disney General Entertainment and FX. That number is up 13% from a decline in 2020 - when FX counted 493 shows - and 5% above pre-pandemic 2019 (532 shows).

However, the record figure for 2021 could simply be because a large number of productions scheduled for 2020 were interrupted and delayed until 2021. For example, two highly anticipated Disney+ series from Marvel Studios, “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” which were initially scheduled for 2020, premiered last year.

Another important factor to consider is that the actual number of scripted content available is far greater than what FX measures. That is because these numbers do not take into account foreign-language series, that in recent times have proven to be a great success driver for platforms, as in the case of the highly successful Korean series "Squid Game".