Netflix – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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With nearly 150 million subscribers around the world, Netflix has a commanding lead in the streaming wars. But it’s also facing heavy competition from deep-pocketed conglomerates like Disney, Apple, and AT&T, and an ongoing wave of narrow, targeted streaming sites like CBS All Access and DC Universe, which can draw on popular existing franchises for original content. As fewer companies are willing to license out their films and shows to other streaming sites, Netflix is pouring billions of dollars annually into its own original content. Follow along with The Verge as we look at Netflix’s new films and shows, its evolving strategies against new entrants in the market, and how it’s leveraging its technological and marketing lead.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
World Cup fever comes to Netflix.

The streaming service’s new multiplayer FIFA titlepart of its burgeoning library of TV games — launches on June 11th, coincidentally the same day the World Cup kicks off. Netflix also has the US rights for the next two women’s World Cups starting in 2027.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Good deal.

Netflix’s next animated series, Dealies, sounds like a weirdo version of Superstore. But it’s especially interesting as its co-creator Joe Bennett was behind both Scavengers Reign and Common Side Effects. No word on when it’ll start streaming.

Image: Netflix
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
I’m sorry, Avatar. You may be confused.

There is no war in Ba Sing Se in the new trailer for season two of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series. But there are plenty of action shots showing off how much more intense the elemental bending will be when the season premieres on June 25th.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Netflix has signed a multi-year deal with the directors of the recent Super Mario movies.

Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath will “develop animated series and films exclusively for Netflix, with first-look rights for live action projects,” according to a press release. Their latest film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, debuted in April.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Netflix will host the NFL’s first “Thanksgiving eve” game.
  • Season opener in Australia: 49ers vs. Rams
  • Thanksgiving eve: Packers vs. Rams
  • Two Christmas Day games
  • Week 18
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
“The Netflix Effect.”

Netflix launched a new website in an attempt to highlight the impact of its films and TV shows over the past decade. Some stats shared by the streamer say Netflix contributed $325 billion to the global economy and created over 425,000 jobs for actors, writers, directors, researchers, and VFX artists.

Netflix may have finally figured out games

The new TV-based games feel right.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Sci-fi streaming season kicks off soon.

We’re about to enter a busy few months for new science fiction shows, and one that I’m particularly excited about is The Boroughs, an extraterrestrial mystery that’s set in a retirement home and that also boasts one hell of a cast. It hits Netflix on May 21st.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Netflix’s animated One Piece remake sets sail next February.

Netflix has announced that The One Piece Studio Wit’s upcoming reimagining of Eiichiro Oda’s iconic series — will debut some time next February with seven episodes that “will cover approximately the first 50 chapters of the original manga.”

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Netflix heads to Narnia next year.

The streamer confirmed that one of its biggest upcoming films — Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, helmed by Barbie director Greta Gerwig — will release in 2027. It’ll be in theaters on February 12th and stream on April 2nd, though it’s not clear just how long the theatrical window will last.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
A TV show renewal? I’ve seen stranger things.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Tales From ‘85, the animated Stranger Things spinoff, but it evidently did well enough that there’s more in store. Netflix has confirmed it’s coming back for season 2, and it’s happening soon — it’ll start streaming this fall.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Netflix has a new party game where you match GIFs with captions.

It looks very Jackbox-like — though if you want to play some actual Jackbox games on Netflix, that’s an option, too.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Pop Culture Jeopardy! returns for a second season on Netflix.

The game show spinoff, which covers topics like music, movies, culture, sports, celebrities, and entertainment, debuted on Amazon Prime Video. Now it’s headed to Netflix for another trivia-filled season starting May 11th, with host Colin Jost.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Get in the robot, Sydney.

Netflix has announced the leading cast for its upcoming Gundam movie from director Jim Mickle (Sweet Tooth), and the lineup looks like… an interesting group of faces, to say the least.

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The least cast of Netflix’s Gundam movie.
Image: Netflix
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Former NBC News anchor Brian Williams is hosting Netflix’s latest original podcast.

We’re Back! With Brian Williams is among a handful of new shows coming to the platform including Allegedly, Shut Up Evan, The Puzzle Room with David Kwong, and The Rotten Files. They’ll join the streamer’s growing library of video “podcasts,” which are only available on Netflix, with no RSS feed downloads.

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Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
“It’s an amazing art form that is way too limited in people’s minds.”

That’s Brad Bird talking about animation, just as Netflix released the first batch of images for his upcoming retrofuturistic detective movie Ray Gunn. It doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but we do know the main cast, which includes Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits as a one-eyed alien.

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A still image from the animated film Ray Gunn.
A still image from the animated film Ray Gunn.
A still image from the animated film Ray Gunn.
1/3Image: Netflix
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Netflix is doubling down on One Piece.

Before Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation returns for a third season in 2027, the streamer will also debut a new One Piece Lego animated special this September, which will make a good companion for WIT Studio’s upcoming The One Piece anime remake series.

The title card for <em>One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta</em>
Art from Wit Studio’s <em>The One Piece.</em>
1/2
The title card for One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta
Image: Netflix
Andrew J. Hawkins
Andrew J. Hawkins
Today’s Artemis II lunar flyby will be livestreamed on Netflix.

The streaming giant missed out on the April 1st launch of Artemis II, but will broadcast today’s historic flight around the Moon.

At 1PM ET, the capsule will fly past the Moon’s far side, which always faces away from the Earth, and it will also stream on NASA’s official YouTube channel. NASA also made a deal with Netflix last year to feature some of its content.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Here Piggy, Piggy.

If you thought writer Jack Thorne’s Adolescence was a stressful watch, the new trailer for his take on Lord of the Flies might be a bit much to take in before the series hits Netflix on May 4th.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Ben Affleck’s AI startup says it’s a cost-saver.

Though Netflix insisted that it bought Ben Affleck’s AI company InterPositive to help filmmakers, Deadline reports that one of the startups big selling points listed in its 2024 patent application is its ability to bring production costs down by millions of dollars.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Even more stranger things.

The main series feels like it just ended, but Netflix is headed back to Hawkins pretty soon. Here’s the latest trailer for Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, which starts streaming on April 23rd.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
We’ve got Stranger Things at home.

Now that Stranger Things is overthe main series, anyways — you can finally own the whole thing on disc. Arrow Video is releasing a box set of the complete series on Blu-Ray and 4K UHD, which will be available in July. I hope the collection spans exactly 11 discs.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
“It was very difficult trying to come up with something that no one had ever seen.”

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein won a handful of Oscars last night, including one for best make-up and hairstyling. Last year I had the chance to talk to Mike Hill, who designed the creature from the film, about his relationship with del Toro and all the work that went into recreating the character.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
A new batch of assassins.

Last year Netflix confirmed that its long-gestating Assassin’s Creed series was still happening, and now we have further proof of life thanks to a casting announcement. Noomi Rapace, Sean Harris, Ramzy Bedia, and Corrado Invernizzi have joined the cast, though there’s still no word on when it’ll start streaming.

Bespoke AI models are the next big thing in filmmaking

Ben Affleck’s AI startup, recently purchased by Netflix for around $600 million, has a different approach to gen AI.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Overcooked, now with a Demogorgon.

The stressful-yet-delightful party game is now available as one of Netflix’s streaming TV games that you control with your phone. This version lets you play as 10 “Netflix celebrity chefs,” including the famous Stranger Things monster.

Netflix is also working on an Overcooked reality show.

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