Is Diana going to Netflix? — Page 3

In an bold move for NY theatre , ⁦@DianaOnBroadway⁩ will be filmed @ Longacre Theatre (w/out an audience) & shown on ⁦@netflix⁩ before it resumes performances on B/way in 2021. Show stars ⁦@thebigdewaal⁩ as Princess ‘Di’ & ⁦@RoeHartrampf⁩ as Charles. pic.twitter.com/a7TquVcI2m

— Baz Bamigboye (@BazBam) August 12, 2020

COVID logistics aside, this weirdly all makes sense. Frank Marshall is the lead producer and he has a relationship with Netflix; Netflix is desperate for content; they have The Crown and obviously data must show that there's an appetite for British fare + musicals.

And, for a production that had a SLIM chance of ever recouping, they probably got north of $1mil from Netflix + expenses. So they're still far off from recoupment, but it's a tiny win for investors.

If this works out, it will be interesting to see if Netflix and other streamers jump on this idea.

Eat your heart out, Beetlejuice

More details to come rather sooner than later (like, really soon)

thanks ddenoff2

Well, it's officially news on Playbill and Broadway.com, so I think it's more than a rumor at this point...

Playbill article

Broadway.com article

Roe Hartrampf posting an IG story post about someone subletting his apartment next month definitely makes more sense now...

JohnyBroadway said: "In the article released by Broadway.com it says that they've worked closely with Actors Equity and it is believed that the cast will quarentine together. (ala NBA, Big Brother.)"

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/199788/diana-musical-to-hit-netflix-before-broadway-return-marking-musical-first-for-streaming-giant/

You have to wonder, with many speculating that in actuality Broadway won’t be back till much later in 2021, which other current shows are exploring this (and I’m sure many are). I would think some shows that might feel like no-brainers, like Plaza Suite and Mean Girls, are unlikely to be an ideal fit for filming without an audience, simply because comedies would seem to need the ingredient of laughter.


But after the success of Hamilton, which seems in no way likely to slow the success of the stage show, and if an unproven show like Diana can get a deal like this, then I’d be surprised if other less comedic offerings such as the Tony winner Hadestown, the well-reviewed Bob Dylan-infused Girl from the North Country, and maybe even Jagged Little Pill - all of which benefit from an audience but which I could see translating well to a filmed taping even in the absence of crowds - and none of which seem on the surface like obvious candidates for an eventual major-motion-picture adaptation - weren’t exploring similar ideas at this point.

Kad said: "Media production is currently able to resume in NY- I don’t really see anything in the reopening requirements that would prevent this."

I think this perfectly highlights the problem. There are, as I am sure you know, lengthy rules. Can a musical comply in an old Broadway house? My superficial knowledge suggests there will be major problems.