Netflix plans new versions of Roald Dahl stories with takeover deal

New versions of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s stories are coming to the smaller display screen just after Netflix struck a offer to invest in the business that manages his legal rights.

The streaming large has snapped up the late author’s total catalogue of novels, which have been translated into 63 languages and bought extra than 300m copies all over the world.

Netflix previously had an settlement in spot to make animated programmes based mostly on Dahl’s is effective. It has tapped Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi to make a new sequence based mostly on Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility and is also creating an adaptation of the musical Matilda.

The business is buying the Roald Dahl Story Organization, which manages the legal rights to his characters throughout publishing, Television set, film, theatre and goods.

Ted Sarandos, co-chief govt of Netflix, and Luke Kelly, the story firm’s manager and grandson of the writer, reported: “As we convey these timeless tales to extra audiences in new formats, we’re committed to keeping their unique spirit and their universal themes of surprise and kindness, though also sprinkling some refreshing magic into the blend.”

The offer is unconventional move for Netflix as it ordinarily only buys the legal rights for content.

It will give the business access to a rich new seam of content for its 200m-plus subscribers as it fights competition from the likes of Amazon Key and Disney+.