NETFLIX UNVEILS SEVEN NEW SCRIPTED SERIES IN THE UK

Netflix has unveiled the production of seven new original scripted series in the UK. The titles vary from horror to science fiction, love stories and physical comedy. “Setting up a team entirely based in the UK was always about being able to better connect to the fantastic program-makers we have here,” VP UK Anne Mensah said.  “To provide a space for writers, producers, directors, and actors that feels local, friendly, and familiar but also provides talent the opportunity to make shows that will impact on a global scale. UK-made stories really do speak to the world.”

The streaming giant's original series team is led by Mensah. The new series will be filmed across UK regions, including the South West, Wales and in the North of England. Netflix has began declaring more than USD 1.3 billion it makes from British subscribers to UK tax authorities, after facing increasing political pressure and questions around its low tax bill. The new slate and programs already in production include “Baby Reindeer” (8 x 30), “Cuckoo Song," a working titles, “Half Bad," “Lockwood & Co," “Man vs Bee." “The Red Zone," and “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle." The streaming giant currently has other titles under production, including “Top Boy S2,” “Sex Education S3,” “The Crown S5,” “After Life S3,” “Stay Close,” “Anatomy of a Scandal,” and “The Last Bus.”

“Baby Reindeer” was written by award-winning writer and performer Richard Gadd and produced by Clerkenwell. The 2019 Edinburgh Fringe one-man stage-play follows Baby Reindeer follows the writer's relationship with his female stalker and how it led him to face drama. The title experienced success at the Fringe, followed by a run at The Bush Theatre, London, along with winning an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement at an Affiliate Theatre. “Cuckoo Song" was produced by Catalyst Global Media and written by Sarah Dollard, Andrea Gibb, Corinna Faith. Doghouse Pictures  served as producers, while Charlotte Walls, Katie Swinden, and Sarah Dollard executively produced the content. The title showcases the horror story between two sisters, one human and one monster, who must unite to reverse a supernatural pact gone wrong.

Based on the novel by Frances Hardinge. “Half Bad” was written by Joe Barton and produced by Imaginarium Production. Joe Barton, Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish, Will Tennant eecutively produced the title. In the story, Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Nathan is the illegitimate son of the world’s most feared witch, who has spent his entir life being monitored for signs he may follow the same destructive path as his father, on his way to discover his true character.

“Lockwood & Co.” Lead Director/Writer: Joe Cornish. Production Company: Complete Fiction Executive Producers:  Nira Park, Rachael Prior, Joe Cornish Synopsis: In London, where the most gifted teenage ghost-hunters venture nightly into perilous combat with deadly spirits, amidst the many corporate, adult-run agencies, one stands alone: independent of any commercial imperative or adult supervision – a tiny startup, run by two teenage boys and a newly arrived, supremely psychically gifted girl, a renegade trio destined to unravel a mystery that will change the course of history: Lockwood & Co. A supernatural action-adventure detective series, based on the best-selling novels by Jonathan Stroud.  “Man Vs. Bee” was created by Rowan Atkinson and Will Davies. Its production company includes HouseSitter Productions, with Will Davies and Chris Clark collaborating as Executive Producers. The story follows a man who finds himself at war with a bee while housesitting a luxurious mansion. 

Adapted from the best-selling, Costa award-winning debut novel by Stuart Turton, “The Red Zone" is made up of six 30-minute episodes, was created by writers Barney Ronay and Jonathan Liew, and produced by Neal Street Productions. Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, and Nicolas Brown served as executive producers. The story reflects a football comedy about friendship, trust, and families, in a world where no one is your friend, where there are zero trusts, and where families tend to devour each other every six months. “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” is made up of 7 60-minute episodes. Its creator and writer Sophie Petzal partnered with production Company, House Productions. The executive Producers who worked on the project include Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross, and Sophie Petzal.