Overview
- Netflix announced Tuesday it signed Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath to an overall partnership to develop new projects for the service.
- Under the agreement, the duo will create animated series and films exclusively for Netflix, and the streamer gets first look at any of their live-action ideas.
- The move follows their recent theatrical run for Universal and Illumination, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossing about $1.3 billion and this year’s sequel reaching roughly $966.5 million.
- Netflix says the 2023 Mario film spent 24 weeks in its global top 10 and drew over 240 million views from December 2023 through the end of 2025, while Teen Titans Go! seasons and the spinoff film notched 80 million views.
- A pay-one deal with Universal brought the Mario films to Netflix first after theaters, showing how big box-office wins can fuel streaming demand and help lock in top creators.