Netflix exclusive for Star Wars toon finale

Netflix has bagged exclusive rights to the climactic season of the Star Wars Clone Wars animated series.

Lucasfilm, the studio behind the Star Wars franchise and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series said last year that it was axing the animated show, shortly after being bought by Disney for US$4 billion. At that point the show had run to five seasons on Cartoon Network.

Netflix has now stepped in and ordered a sixth season. A deal with the Disney/ABC Television Group means Netflix will put out a new 13-epside series, dubbed ‘The Lost Missions’, on its streaming service in the US and Canada. All episodes will launch on Friday, March 7.

Netflix will also take all previous episodes of The Clone Wars series including several director’s cut episodes never seen on TV and the associated feature film.

The deal deepens the relationship between Netflix and Disney following their pact, inked last year, for several original series based on characters from the Marvel universe. Netflix also has exclusive US pay TV rights to Disney live-action and animated features under the terms of a deal that takes effect in 2016.

“Star Wars is one of the most iconic franchises of all time and this series joins a long line of Disney content that Netflix members are and will continue to enjoy for years to come,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer. “The Clone Wars marks an important moment as Netflix welcomes more and more first-run content from The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries.”