Netflix Buys Rights to Stories and Characters Roald Dahl
Streaming platform Netflix has bought the rights to the stories of author Roald Dahl, known for children’s books such as Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
After three years of collaborating on series and films based on Dahl’s stories, the American company is now acquiring the entire Roald Dahl Story Company. That company owns the rights to all the characters and stories created by the British writer who died in 1990.
Netflix doesn’t often take over other companies. Normally, the media company contracts with well-known TV producers or directors for new programs. Instead, with the deal, the company hopes to create programs based on Dahl’s books that will appeal to both children and adults as competition from, say, Disney+ intensifies.
The amount for which Netflix will acquire the Roald Dahl Story Company has not been disclosed. However, it is probably a significant amount. According to media, Netflix paid between 500 million and 1 billion dollars to use Dahl’s brainchildren in the previous collaboration.
Netflix is currently working on a series based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which appeared in the Netherlands as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In addition, the streaming company is working with Sony on a musical version of Matilda. Movies from both books have been released before.