Netflix continues originals push

Streaming service Netflix has acquired global rights to Noah Baumbach’s latest film, and ordered a series based on a horror novel.

The first deal sees Netflix picking up rights to The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) from IAC Films.

The movie stars Adam Sandler, with whom Netflix already has an output deal, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Marvel, Grace van Patten and Emma Thompson. Scott Rudin, Baumbach, Lila Yacoub and Eli Bush produce.

It follows the intergenerational tale of adult siblings contending with the influence of their aging father.

Baumbach is the director and producer of features such as Kicking and Screaming, The Squid and the Whale, Greenberg and Mistress America.

“Noah Baumbach is an important voice in American filmmaking and his films are always highly anticipated around the world,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer.

“Noah is among the filmmakers that we were eager to work with, and I know that film enthusiasts everywhere will be as moved by this film as we were.”

On the series front, Netflix has charged Mike Flanagan (Absentia) with writing, directing and executive producing a TV version of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel The Haunting of House Hill, along with his production partner, Trevor Macy.

Amblin Television is coproduce with Paramount Television, with Amblin’s Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank both attached.

The straight-to-series order is the first scripted deal Amblin has struck with Netflix, though they worked together on doc Five Came Back. Paramount recently had the TV adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events renewed for a third season on Netflix, with dark comedy Maniac soon to launch.

The Haunting of Hill House centres on four people living in an 80-year-old mansion, which has a history of paranormal activity and being the location of violent deaths.