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Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos is breaking down why he thinks his streamer lost Stranger Things creators The Duffer Bros. and the hit show’s executive producer and director Shawn Levy to rival studios.
Matt and Ross Duffer surprised the industry by announcing they were jumping ship to Paramount last August in a four-year exclusive deal that covered film and TV. They officially made the switch in April.
Then Levy, who is directing the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter for Lucasfilm, was announced as leaving for Disney’s 20th Television after a decade spent at Netflix. His deal via his 21 Laps Entertainment production company beings next October.
The Hollywood Reporter asked Sarandos about the high-profile defections of three men who were responsible for what’s arguably the streamer’s biggest hit series.
“The Duffers have worked with us for [a] decade and did not want to make more TV shows right now,” Sarandos said. “They really want to make big tentpole theatrical movies. And I said to Matt and Ross, ‘You guys are great at what you do, and I think you should go do that. You’re 40. Don’t wake up when you’re 60 wishing you did that 20 years later.’ And I’m thrilled for them. They’re going to have great success.”
Sarandos pointed out that Netflix still owns the Stranger Things franchise, which could have still some additional content to come. “We — the Stranger Things universe — are going to continue to be a part of [that success] forever,” he added.
As for Levy, Sarandos suggested the director likewise wanted to make major theatrical films — and suggested that Levy will make more Star Wars movies after Starfighter is released next year.
“Shawn also was kind of doing the same thing. And the problem when you have an overall deal with someone who has commitments in other places, you’re in constant conflict for their time. And Shawn is going to be making Star Wars movies for a while. So the fact that his deal is with Disney makes a lot of sense. I’m thrilled for Shawn. We’re going to do a ton of things together.”
Sarandos added Netflix still has shows in development with Levy, including an upcoming hockey drama titled Sticks. “We have a lot of that stuff’s going to stick around,” he said.
The Duffer Brothers have similarly explained that movies were their reason for leaving Netflix, with Matt Duffer saying, “The biggest draw to us was just to be able to do something theatrical, which is not something Netflix does.”
Levy’s statement about his Disney deal was more vague, saying he has “always felt a kindred spirit in Disney and their storytelling ethos” and noting the studio “feels like home.”
Tony Magilo contributed to this report.
English (US) ·