Netflix expands anime, renews ‘You’ for final season & retains ‘Arrested Development’

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers

Netflix’s anime push continues with the streamer announcing two new series set to debut later this year – Ōoku: The Inner Chambers and Yakitori: Soldiers Of Misfortune.

Details of the new shows were announced at fan event AnimeJapan 2023, with Ōoku: The Inner Chambers based upon the manga by Fumi Yoshinaga.

Inspired by the Ōoku, the historic women’s quarters of the Edo Castle, this tale unravels the history of the inner chambers, where gender roles have been reversed. When a mysterious plague causes a rapid decline in the male population, the nation’s women are forced to take up the central roles of authority in Edo society.

Curious as to why women take the names of men when succeeding the family line, Yoshimune, the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, consults an archive of the Ōoku, and begins to unravel the history of the inner chambers.

Noriyuki Abe is attached to direct and Rika Takasugi write the series which is developed and produced by Netflix, with Studio Deen handling animation production.

Yakitori: Soldiers Of Misfortune will meanwhile launch on Netflix in May and is adapted from the military science fiction novel series of the same name by Carlo Zen.

It follows Akira Ihotsu, a young man who spends his days rebelling against an oppressive society on a future Earth, which is ruled and controlled by Shoren, the Pan-Star System Trade Federation. When he is scouted by Pupkin, a “cook” for Shoren, Ihotsu volunteers to join the planetary orbital infantry force Yakitori – a brutal unit whose missions average a shocking death rate.

Hideki Anbo directs the series, written by Mitsuyasu Sakai. This series is also developed and produced by Netflix with animation production from Arect.

The shows join an anime slate including previously announced series such as Onmyoji, Pluto and Ultraman Final.

You

‘You’ renewed, ‘Arrested Development’ retained

In related news, Netflix has renewed psychological thriller You for a fifth and final season, which will see executive producers Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo step in as co-showrunners with former lead Sera Gamble exiting the series.

Developed by Gamble & Greg Berlanti, You launched on Netflix in 2018, based on the book series by Caroline Kepnes and produced by Berlanti Productions, Alloy Entertainment and A+E Studios, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

It follows the story of bookstore owner and serial killer Joe Goldberg who falls in love and develops an obsession.

Peter Friedlander, VP of scripted series, Netflix, US and Canada, said: “You became an instant sensation on Netflix with a resounding cultural impact that has grown season over season. We’re excited – and a bit terrified – to see how it all ends for Joe Goldberg, but one thing is for sure: You are in for an unforgettable ending.”

Meanwhile, Netflix has struck a last-minute deal to keep US comedy Arrested Development on the service.

Last month, Netflix announced that the sitcom would be leaving the service on 15 March, but the streamer has reached a licensing agreement with 20^th Century Fox to retain the show.

Arrested Development ran on Fox for three seasons before its cancellation in 2006. The series was then revived by Netflix for two further seasons in 2013 and 2018.