Netflix’s 2025 Takeover: Stars, Shows, and Secrets Revealed!

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How might one persuade Ben Affleck to venture into the heart of Hollywood Boulevard early on a Wednesday morning, specifically at 9 a.m., to present a brief, two-minute pitch for his newest film to a crowd of reporters? It seems that only Netflix has the power to do so.

2025 Netflix Preview Event at the Egyptian Theatre was an interactive sizzler, where Next on Netflix unfolded in real-time. The main attraction included Ben Affleck, Tina Fey, John Mulaney, The Duffer Brothers, WWE wrestlers, and a pre-recorded Guillermo del Toro, alongside Bela Bajaria – the head of content. During this event, she presented an exhilarating array of upcoming series and movies.

1. Last week, Netflix announced it had reached 300 million paid subscribers globally and its stock hit an all-time high. Meanwhile, news broke that its acquisition “Emilia Perez” has been nominated multiple times at the upcoming Academy Awards, potentially making it the first best picture Oscar for Netflix. However, despite these successes, Bajaria felt the need to present a strong lineup of upcoming projects to prove Netflix’s continued relevance in the industry. This lineup includes final seasons of “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” sneak peeks of both shows, as well as trailer premieres for “Frankenstein” directed by Del Toro and Affleck’s crime thriller “RIP.”

2. Last week, Netflix announced it had reached 300 million paid subscribers worldwide, causing its stock to reach an all-time high. Additionally, it was revealed that “Emilia Perez,” a recent acquisition by Netflix, has received numerous nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards, increasing the likelihood of Netflix winning its first best picture Oscar. Despite these accomplishments, Bajaria felt compelled to showcase a robust pipeline of upcoming projects to maintain Netflix’s position in the competitive media landscape. This lineup includes the final seasons of “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” previews of both series, as well as premieres for Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Affleck’s crime thriller “RIP.”

3. Last week, Netflix hit 300 million paid subscribers worldwide, causing its stock to reach an all-time high. Moreover, it was announced that “Emilia Perez,” a recent acquisition by the streaming giant, has received multiple nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards, increasing the possibility of Netflix winning its first best picture Oscar. However, Bajaria felt the need to demonstrate Netflix’s ongoing relevance in the entertainment industry by revealing a strong lineup of upcoming projects. This includes final seasons of “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” previews of both series, as well as premieres for Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Affleck’s crime thriller “RIP.”

4. In the wake of Netflix reaching 300 million paid subscribers globally last week and its stock hitting an all-time high, it was also announced that “Emilia Perez,” a recent acquisition by the streaming platform, has received numerous nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards, potentially making it the first best picture Oscar for Netflix. Despite these accomplishments, Bajaria felt the need to present a compelling pipeline of upcoming projects to solidify Netflix’s position in the media industry. This lineup includes final seasons of “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” previews of both series, as well as premieres for Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Affleck’s crime thriller “RIP.”

5. With Netflix announcing it had reached 300 million paid subscribers worldwide last week and its stock hitting an all-time high, it was also revealed that “Emilia Perez,” a recent acquisition by the streaming service, has been nominated for multiple awards at the upcoming Academy Awards, increasing the likelihood of Netflix winning its first best picture Oscar. However, Bajaria wanted to emphasize Netflix’s continued relevance in the entertainment industry by unveiling an impressive pipeline of upcoming projects. This lineup includes final seasons of “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” previews of both series, as well as premieres for Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Affleck’s crime thriller “RIP.”

One common misconception regarding Netflix is the belief that we don’t produce ‘high-end TV series,’ or that we’ve reduced our production of such content. The most frustrating part about this misconception, aside from it being unfounded, is that there’s no clear definition for what ‘high-end TV series’ truly means. Is it a show that receives critical acclaim? Does it win awards? Is it one that audiences adore? Or perhaps it’s a show that people in New York and Los Angeles discuss at their dinner parties?

Bajaria highlighted the remarkable achievements of shows such as “Baby Reindeer”, “The Crown”, “Beef”, and “Ripley”, followed by announcing upcoming high-profile releases: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ “Death by Lightning”, Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys’ thriller “The Beast in Me”, and Robert De Niro’s film “Zero Day”. Tina Fey was present to promote her collaboration with Steve Carrell, a modern take on Alan Alda’s “Four Seasons”. Bajaria boasted about their impressive awards recognition last year, stating, “We surpassed all other networks in terms of Emmy, Golden Globe, and Oscar nominations.” She added that this year they have captivating, impactful shows that fit the definition of ‘prestige TV’.

Bajaria also introduced their new film head, Dan Lin, whose initial projects will debut later this year. “He’s already greenlit and acquired over 25 films,” said Bajaria, noting that “Emilia Perez” was his first acquisition. However, the key releases of 2025 precede Lin’s, including “Happy Gilmore 2”, an adaptation of the popular novel “Thursday Murder Club”, and “Wake Up Dead Man”, Rian Johnson’s latest “Knives Out” mystery.

The presentation was specifically designed for the media (press), although it could have also been used for investors or advertisers. It stepped into the shoes of the troubled Television Critics Association press tour, but on a grander scale. The event was broadcast in 11 different countries simultaneously, with live events in those regions to promote their own local initiatives.

In general, TV and movie content tends to be quite region-specific,” remarked Bajaria. “The French prefer French productions, Italians favor Italian series, and Brazilians enjoy Brazilian shows. Our aim is to create outstanding shows and films that resonate with local viewers initially, and subsequently make them accessible for anyone, regardless of their location.

The widespread popularity of Netflix was evident, not only through the presentation but also in the star-studded cast that was showcased – one of whom incorporated its cultural and market power into their routine.

As a gamer (or viewer), let me tell you, among all the DVD mail-order services that transitioned, Netflix easily ranks at the very top for me – Redbox coming in a close second. Now, Redbox did try to entice me with some substantial cash to create a show, but I politely declined. I’m all about Team Netflix, and I’m not gonna debut my content in front of convenience stores, no matter how generous the offer might be.

Netflix has made a significant shift in its strategy. Ted Sarandos, in particular, is emphasizing the expansion into live programming – as evidenced by the recent NFL deal and the $5 billion WWE agreement – as well as gaming, while also highlighting the increasing number of interactive “experiences” they have planned. A Netflix restaurant will open at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas next month. The first two locations of Netflix Houses, immersive spaces themed around their most popular shows, are set to open soon in Texas and Pennsylvania. It’s still a long road before Netflix can challenge Disney, but these experiences are seen as one of the most resilient areas in entertainment for the future.

At the conclusion of the gathering, Bajaria entertained a quick session where attendees could ask questions. She was questioned about the relatively inactive marketplace at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and her distribution plan for the final season of Stranger Things. However, much of this information had already been discussed. Therefore, the event ended like many Hollywood events do: with a hint at future job opportunities.

Bajaria politely declined when someone who labeled themselves as a content creator inquired about partnering with the streamer. However, it’s clear that many others are already queued up for such an opportunity.

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2025-01-30 17:30