Netflix has been busy this week. In the continuing arms race of streaming services acquiring content and producing their own, the worldwide streaming platform has a handful of new titles headed their way, so let’s dive right in.
Deadline reports that Netflix has tapped Tom McCarthy to direct the first two episodes and produce the new series "13 Reasons Why." Based on the book by Jay Asher, and produced by Selena Gomez ("Spring Breakers," "Rudderless"), the story will center on Clay, a young man who tries to unravel what part he played in driving his crush, Hannah, to suicide.
Pulitizer and Tony Award winner Brian Yorkey has adapted the book, the series will run thirteen episodes, and it sounds like compelling, wrenching stuff.
Meanwhile, Netflix has been busy adding more projects to their roster. Variety reports they’ve snapped up the cancer dramedy "Other People" starring Molly Shannon and Jesse Plemons, which premiered at Sundance last month (our review). They’ve also acquired "Ozark," a series that will be directed by Jason Bateman, who will also star. The drama, which will start shooting this spring, takes place in the dangerous world of money laundering.
Lastly, Netflix will be kicking off their first original German language production with "Dark." The family saga will be directed by Baran bo Odar, and is set in a German town in present day where the disappearance of two young children exposes the double lives and fractured relationships among four families. In ten, hour-long episodes, the story takes on a supernatural twist that ties back to the same town in 1986. Look for it in 2017.
