With nearly 150 million subscribers around the world, Netflix has a commanding lead in the streaming wars. But it’s also facing heavy competition from deep-pocketed conglomerates like Disney, Apple, and AT&T, and an ongoing wave of narrow, targeted streaming sites like CBS All Access and DC Universe, which can draw on popular existing franchises for original content. As fewer companies are willing to license out their films and shows to other streaming sites, Netflix is pouring billions of dollars annually into its own original content. Follow along with The Verge as we look at Netflix’s new films and shows, its evolving strategies against new entrants in the market, and how it’s leveraging its technological and marketing lead.
What will we find there? NBC Sports writer Denny Carter might have the best guess, from this 2017 tweet:
Typical QB tweet: love my teammates god is good!
RB tweet: keep grindin
TE tweet: derp
WR tweet: the enemy speaks kindly & holds a knife
Following last year’s Quarterback series, Receiver premieres on Netflix on July 10th.
About three years after becoming VP of Netflix Games, Mike Verdu gave this statement to GamesIndustry.biz:
I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished, and excited to start a new team at Netflix on the cutting edge of game innovation.
He will apparently stay on as VP until a replacement is found and then work on “new technologies” (maybe something in the cloud?) in game development.
[GamesIndustry.biz]
the first Wake Up Dead Man set photo just dropped. It doesn’t reveal much about the next Benoit Blanc mystery, which started filming today, but it does confirm the detective will be sporting a new look in 2025.
And he’ll be joined by quite the cast, including: Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
An AI PC you’ll want to tinker with
Plus, in this week’s Installer: a hit movie about a hit man, an FBI tech caper, an app for managing media, and much more.
That’s not quite how J.R.R. Tolkien started The Hobbit, but that’ll be how it goes when hobbit life simulator Tales of The Shire arrives exclusively on mobile via Netflix. Netflix also announced a ton more games joining the service this month and beyond including several games based on Netflix shows, The Case of the Golden Idol, and Don’t Starve Together.
Here’s your reminder that Lost, one of the biggest shows of the aughts, is returning to Netflix in the US on July 1st.
I’ll admit that I never finished the series. But I remember Hurley, a polar bear, and that people who aren’t The Verge’s Jay Peters were grumpy about the ending.
Here’s your first look at Liam Hemsworth in The Witcher
The actor will take over the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill starting with season 4.
Netflix is gearing up for the finale of its post-apocalyptic series Sweet Tooth, and the first season 3 trailer reveals that fans can finally expect some answers to the show’s big questions. It starts streaming on June 6th.
Ultraman: Rising’s first teaser gave us a glimpse of the big man’s adoptive kaiju daughter, and framed their relationship as somewhat uneasy. But the movie’s latest trailer makes Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) seem like one hell of a dad who’s going to fight the world for his kid this June.
Variety reports that Max has cancelled the gorgeous sci-fi series after one season, but there’s hope: not only will the show start streaming on Netflix on May 31st, but the streamer is reportedly considering giving it a second season, as well.
Every week in May, Netflix will release a new game starting today with Sonic Mania Plus. On May 14th go back in time with Braid, Anniversary Edition which includes a brand-new Netflix exclusive level. Paper Trail comes the week after on May 21st and finally Netflix’s own choose-your-own romance game, Virgin River launches May 29th. Katana Zero is also coming in May with a release date coming soon.
[Netflix]