Netflix and DreamWorks Animation Television are kicking their original programming relationship into the next gear with a Fast & Furious animated series due in 2019 –it is the first title in a planned expansion of the multi-year deal for kids & family content. Following Comcast-NBCUniversal’s acquisition of the animation studio, the relationship has expanded to include a first-look at series based on Universal film properties, while DreamWorks also continues with shows based on original and acquired IP.
“We are excited to extend and expand our successful relationship with Netflix by not only delivering more high-quality DreamWorks programming, but connecting fans of Universal films with fascinating new stories,” said Margie Cohn, President of DreamWorks Animation Television. “Our new home at Universal marks an exciting new chapter for storytelling at our studio, and Fast & Furious is only the beginning.”
Based on the $5 billion global action movie franchise (which will get 8th, 9th and 10th installments in July 2019, April 2020 and April 2021), the Fast & Furious animated series relates the adventures of teenager Tony Toretto, who follows in the footsteps of his cousin Dom when he and his friends are recruited by a government agency to infiltrate an elite racing league serving as a front for a nefarious criminal organization bent on world domination.
Tim Hedrick (Voltron Legendary Defender) and Bret Haaland (All Hail King Julien) will serve as executive producers and showrunners. The series is also executive produced by Vin Diesel, Neal Moritz and Chris Morgan, who also serve as producers on the live-action Fast & Furious franchise.
The expansion builds upon a successful five year relationship that has seen 14 original series debut on Netflix, including Trollhunters from Guillermo del Toro, Spirit Riding Free and All Hail King Julien, with an additional four series slated to debut on Netflix in 2018. Since 2013, DreamWorks series on Netflix have garnered 17 Emmy Awards, with an additional 21 nominations recently received from the 2018 Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
“We are thrilled to take our fantastic partnership with DreamWorks Animation to the next level with new opportunities from the vast library of Universal Pictures,” said Melissa Cobb, Vice President of Kids and Family. “The Fast & Furious franchise is a global phenomenon beloved by audiences of all ages, and we can’t wait to get started on the new animated series that will capture the action, heart, humor and global appeal of the feature films.”
