Netflix reveals 2024 line-up, int’l originals & doc acquisitions

Emily In Paris (Source: Netflix)

Netflix has unveiled a slew of new and returning global and local originals this week, along with new acquisitions, as its 2024 content line-up takes shape.

The streamer has confirmed that new seasons of Emily In Paris and The Night Agent will debut in 2024, as well as the concluding instalments of Cobra Kai and The Umbrella Academy, alongside previously announced returns for Squid Game and Bridgerton. However, other big draws such as Stranger Things, Wednesday and One Piece have yet to receive release dates for their anticipated next seasons.

Among its new commissions is Death By Lightning, a drama retelling the rise of US President James Garfield and his subsequent assassination by Charles Guiteau.

The series, starring George & Tammy’s Michael Shannon and Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen, hails from creator Mike Makowsky and executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, under their deal with Netflix, and Matt Ross, who will direct all episodes.

Netflix has also acquired a pair of docs following their Sundance debuts, including director Josh Greenbaum’s Will & Harper, which follows actor Will Ferrell on a cross-country road trip with a close friend of 30 years who he has just discovered is coming out as a trans woman, as the two process this new stage of their friendship.

Angela Patton and Natalie Rae’s Daughters, meanwhile, follows four young girls as they prepare for a special ‘daddy-daughter dance’ with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail.

Echoes Of The Past (Source: Netflix)

Expanding the MENA slate

Netflix’s original MENA content for 2024 covers a range of new and returning shows, including a second season of Jordanian drama Al Rawabi School For Girls.

Produced by Filmizion Productions, and hailing from showrunner Tima Shomali, with co-creators Shirin Kamal and Islam Alshomali, this season follows new students with fresh secrets that are about to shake things up.

Also back for a second season later this year is Egyptian drama Ola, which sees the titular character embark on a journey that could potentially alter the course of her life forever.

Kuwaiti drama The Exchange returns for season two, while UAE reality series Dubai Bling is back for a third eight-episode season.

Meanwhile, animated Saudi Arabian film Masameer Junior sees the return of the characters from the series Masameer County as youngsters Trad, Saltooh, and Saad embark on a journey to find heaven after being terrified by their teacher’s warning about the consequences of being mischievous kids.

Aside from returning titles, new MENA productions include romantic comedy film Honeymoonish from Kuwait; Saudi Arabian drama feature Basma; and eight-part Egyptian series Echoes Of The Past, produced by Charisma Group and exec produced by Mohammad Mashish.

Netflix has also commissioned a UAE version of social experiment dating format Love Is Blind, with Love Is Blind, Habibi, which follows young single Arabs living on their quest to find true love.

Documentary Talent Fund & European orders

In the UK & Ireland, Netflix has launched five short documentaries created by recipients of the Documentary Talent Fund. The filmmakers received £30,000 ($38,267) to create a documentary short film on the theme of “connection.”

The films were showcased at a premiere event at London’s Ham Yard Hotel and are now available to watch via Netflix’s YouTube Channel Still Watching.

The five titles are Iranian Yellow Pages from Anna Snowball & Abolfazl Talooni; Two Mothers from Anna Rodgers & Zlata Filipović; Turn Up The Bass from Caroline Williamson & Troi Lee; Sperm Donors Wanted! from Logan Rea & Krishna Istha; and Black Strokes from Olivia Smart.

Kate Townsend, Netflix’s director of documentary film, said: “We are immensely proud of the tenacity, grit and creativity demonstrated to get the films made and presented to this final standard of excellence. Each film is an exciting glimpse into the future talent of UK documentarians.”

In Spain, the streamer has announced My Dearest Señorita, an adaptation of the 1972 film of the same name directed by Jaime de Arimañán; and a new reality docuseries from Komodo Studios following the day-to-day life of the Thyssen Baroness.

On Netflix’s Swedish slate, meanwhile, is Helicopter Heist, an eight-part crime drama from B-Reel Films, which will sit alongside the previously announced An Honest Life and Ronja The Robber’s Daughter, which it acquired from Viaplay last year.