Netflix's international originals team talks Sacred Games, plans for India, and need for diverse stories
FirstpostKelly Luegenbiehl and Simran Sethi from Netflix’s International Originals team spoke with Firstpost about Sacred Games, and what comes next for the streaming service here On 29 June 2018 — a little past 12 am — Netflix announced that its next global series would be an adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s Booker Prize winning novel Midnight’s Children. Some hours earlier — late afternoon on 28 June — the streaming service’s vice president Kelly Luegenbiehl and director Simran Sethi were noncommittal when asked if big-banner literary adaptations were part of Netflix’s long-term strategy. Being able to have this, Lust Stories last month, and a steady drumbeat of content to come — Ghoul, Leila, Bard of Blood, some stand-up specials — it’s just an exciting time for us in India right now.” While the hope is that Sacred Games will be the next big ‘crossover’ success for Netflix among its international originals, Kellysaid that wasn’t a consideration that influenced the making of this series. So far they’ve really been responding; our global originals like Stranger Things and 13 Reasons Why have such great followings here… We’re hoping to have a great mix of local and global originals that audiences will enjoy.” Has the slew of local content on Amazon Prime, a competing streaming service, changed Netflix’s strategy in any way?