Overview
- Darnell signed an exclusive, multi-year overall deal with Netflix Thursday to develop and produce competition series, dating shows and reality ensemble projects.
- Netflix said Darnell will provide strategic creative guidance across its entire unscripted slate and will collaborate with the team on creative development and new ideas.
- The move follows the recent exit of Jeff Gaspin from Netflix’s unscripted leadership and points to a renewed focus on large, IP-driven 'shiny-floor' formats.
- Darnell arrives with decades of network and studio experience at Fox and Warner Bros., where he oversaw hits such as American Idol, MasterChef, The Voice and The Bachelor and built a reputation for bold, format-driven concepts.
- Industry executives expect the deal to speed Netflix’s development of proven formats and big-ticket adaptations and to supply hands-on production leadership for U.S. and global reality projects.