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.
Variety reports that Max has cancelled the gorgeous sci-fi series after one season, but there’s hope: not only will the show start streaming on Netflix on May 31st, but the streamer is reportedly considering giving it a second season, as well.
Every week in May, Netflix will release a new game starting today with Sonic Mania Plus. On May 14th go back in time with Braid, Anniversary Edition which includes a brand-new Netflix exclusive level. Paper Trail comes the week after on May 21st and finally Netflix’s own choose-your-own romance game, Virgin River launches May 29th. Katana Zero is also coming in May with a release date coming soon.
[Netflix]
Netflix is really making a meal out of the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai, which will total 15 episodes split into three parts. The first is out July 18th, followed by part two on November 28th. But for the “Finale Event” fans will have to wait until 2025.
30 years after the tragic death of Brazilion F1 great Ayrton Senna, Netflix released a first look at its upcoming series based on his life.
Post-Drive to Survive and ahead of this weekend’s Miami GP, it’s clear how much F1’s popularity has grown since the Senna documentary in 2010, bringing in new fans who can learn about his story.
Hollywood is always chock full of writers trying to sell networks on scripts for brand new franchises. But! Netflix has reportedly just outbid a number of other studios in “a competitive situation” to produce another live-action Scooby Doo adaptation that people are absolutely, definitely going to be excited about.
Netflix’s Rebel Moon films both feel like Zack Snyder trying to celebrate sci-fi classics by gently riffing on them in some of the least inspired ways possible.
Futurism spotted what looks to be AI photo shenanigans in Netflix’s What Jennifer Did, a true crime documentary detailing a murder-for-hire plot. The possible AI-generated images appeared in scenes describing the subject, Jennifer Pan’s personality. Futurism rightly points out that fake AI images in a true crime documentary are controversial, at the least.
Co-CEO Greg Peters says the streamer doesn’t have a “set position” on a ceiling for its subscription pricing:
You can look at pay TV as a potential markers for where people have spent before but we really actually don’t think of it so much is defined by that... As we add more entertainment value, then of course we can go back to our subscribers and ask them to pay a little bit more to keep that virtuous cycle moving.
Today’s episode of Decoder is all about Disney, the massive activist investor revolt it just fought off, and what happens next in the world of streaming. Earlier this month, Disney survived an attempted board takeover from businessman Nelson Peltz. While investors overwhelmingly sided with Disney and CEO Bob Iger, the boardroom showdown made something very clear: Disney needs to figure out streaming and get its creative direction back on track.
To help me better understand what’s happening here, I brought on my friend Julia Alexander, who is VP of strategy at Parrot Analytics, a Puck News news contributor, and, most importantly, a former Verge reporter. She’s a leading expert on all things Disney, and I always learn something important about the state of the entertainment business when I talk to her.
We’ve written a lot about why the price of streaming services has gone up, but this video from our friends at Vox breaks it all down.
Makoto Shinkai’s excellent anime feature hit Netflix today, just in time for your Friday movie night. And when you’re done watching, be sure to check out our chat with Shinkai. (And, if you haven’t already, watch Weathering With You and Your Name.)
As Paul Sun-Hyung Lee sees it, truly loving a genre franchise means wanting to share it and pass it along to the next generation of fans.
Geralt is getting a whole new face season four of Netflix’s live-action The Witcher adaptation. But in addition to Liam Hemworth, the show has also added Sharlto Copley as Leo Bonhart, James Purefoy as Skellen, and Danny Woodburn as Zoltan to the cast.
There’s a little more of Edwin and Charles doing their ghostly detective work in the trailer for Netflix’s Sandman spinoff, Dead Boy Detectives
Detectives, which comes from showrunners Steve Yockey, who wrote the excellent Doom Patrol and Sweet Tooth co-creator Beth Schwartz, will be up for streaming starting on April 25th.
Netflix is next up in making a fictional series about true crime podcasters. Bodkin is described as a “darkly comedic thriller” set in the titular “idyllic, coastal Irish town,” and it stars Will Forte, Siobhán Cullen, Robyn Cara, David Wilmot, and Chris Walley. It starts streaming on May 9th.
Neither has any of the apps we’re used to.
Andrew Webster’s reviews of the 3 Body headset and the tablet from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom each drive home the necessity of a healthy ecosystem, even for the coolest tech.
While we already knew The Boy and the Heron would soon be available on Max in the US, Netflix has secured worldwide streaming rights, and announced its plans to debut the movie in the Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America markets in the comings months.
Though David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo’s 3 Body Problem is impressive, it really feels like just an introduction to Cixin Liu’s deeper ideas.
Netflix’s latest sports docuseries follows the same format as the Peyton Manning-produced Quarterback. The only difference is that it highlights top NFL receivers, including Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The eight-episode series, Receiver, hits Netflix this summer and comes as part of the streamer’s broader push into sports documentaries and live events.
If it’s been a while since you thought about Sofia Boutella in Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire as Imperium soldier Kora, there’s a solid chance Rebel Moon — Part Two The Scargiver’s new trailer will leave you more than a bit confused about what’s going on.
The movie hits Netflix on April 19th.
