Fremantle to shop Duplass Brothers’ self-financed Netflix drama Penelope
DBP’s Penelope will be carried by Netflix US initially in a short window
Fremantle has picked up the international distribution rights to Duplass Brothers Productions’ (DBP) independently produced and financed coming-of-age drama Penelope.
The RTL Group-owned producer and distributor will handle worldwide sales of the 8×30’ series, which was created by Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn.
News of the deal came one day before the show launches in the US on Netflix, which picked it up earlier this year.
DBP, founded by Duplass and his brother Jay, fully financed and produced the show, before taking it out to buyers and ultimately striking an innovative deal with Netflix.
Speaking to C21 at SeriesFest in May, Duplass explained the deal saw DBP take a smaller fee than usual for the first season, which will initially only be carried by Netflix in the US and in a short window.
If the first season is a hit, an improved licensing deal can be negotiated with Netflix and production expanded for the sophomore season, Duplass said. However, if the first season is unsuccessful for Netflix in the US, DBP would then be free to sell Penelope to alternative international clients.
“Ultimately, DBP is in the driving seat and we’ve mitigated risk for Netflix,” he told C21 at the time.
“We want to make it easier for streamers by not asking them to commission us at the pitching stage. DBP will literally make the whole thing ourselves so they can see it and not have to break their backs giving us the money to produce it.
“If Penelope is wildly successful, then of course Netflix will do it again, but if it’s not, DBP has retained the rights to sell it to multiple other partners around the world. We feel this is a fair model that buoys everyone in the system – not just the creator, but the buyers themselves.”
Penelope is executive produced by both Duplass brothers, Eslyn and Shuli Harel, with Eslyn also directing and showrunning.
The drama follows a 16-year-old girl, played by Megan Stott (Little Fires Everywhere, Yes Day, Aftermath), who feels out of place in modern society and is drawn into the wilderness, where she begins to create a new life for herself. The project also stars Austin Abrams (Euphoria, Dash & Lily, Do Revenge), Krisha Fairchild (Krisha, Channel Zero, Freeland) and Rhenzy Feliz (The Penguin, All Together Now, Encanto).
“This premium, coming-of-age series has strong emotional heart and beautiful production values, all whilst addressing important, timely and relatable issues that consume our everyday lives” said Rebecca Dundon, senior VP of scripted content, international at Fremantle.
Eslyn added: “Penelope is very dear to our hearts and we wouldn’t trust her to just anyone. We are grateful to have found partners that understand, support and encourage the story we are trying to tell and the larger conversation we are hoping to inspire.”
