Back in 2018, Netflix announced it had signed a deal to create exclusive animated content using stories from the Roald Dahl universe. This week, the streaming service has acquired the Roald Dahl estate, securing control over the late author’s works.
As the BBC reports, the acquisition means that Netflix will be able to use any and all of Dahl’s work for creating new TV and movie content, but also games and live shows. The Roald Dahl Story Company, which manages the rights of the author’s characters and stories and their use “across publishing, tv, film, theatre, products and more,” also forms part of this deal.
Netflix confirmed the deal in a tweet, saying, “Excited to announce that the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) and Netflix are joining forces to bring some of the world’s most loved stories to current and future fans in creative new ways.” Subsequent tweets point out work is already underway on a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory series, as well as a “wholly original take on the Oompa-Loompas.” There’s also a live-action Matilda movie starring Emma Thompson releasing in 2022.
Although Netflix is the largest streaming service by some margin, content is king and this deal ensures a rich vein of work will remain exclusive to the service. Dahl had 49 books/collections published, 21 of those were for children, but he also wrote stories for adults, which The New Yorker described as “twisted, overlooked” back in 2016.
