What We Learned About Netflix’s Upcoming Original Programming At The TCAs

Today, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos gave a look at what the streaming platform has in store for the next year in a presentation for the Television Critics Association. Fresh off of Netflix’s whopping 34 Emmy nominations, Sarandos was in a pretty happy mood as he dished about the upcoming series Narcos, the future of Arrested Development, and brought out Tina Fey to talk about Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

First, the bad news — well, at least for Lilyhammer fans (there are, what, a couple of you, right?): the series, which was Netflix’s first foray into original programming, has been cancelled. I guess Steven Van Zandt will have to go back to the E Street Band, which is not a terrible fall-back gig. But there’s some good news for BoJack Horseman fans, as the animated dramedy will return for a third season.

Sarandos also spoke of the possible return of Arrested Development (producer Brian Grazer previously confirmed that the show will come back for a fifth season, and star Jessica Walter even hinted at the possible plot). “It’s a long complex deal to make to make for these guys both because the talent is very busy and working on other shows,” he said. “But also because the show is owned by [20th Century] Fox. The intent is to have a new season of Arrested Development, and all negotiations are underway.”

Other big reveals included the 2015 premiere date for Marvel’s Jessica Jones starring Krysten Ritter (no specific date yet, but keep an eye out for a November or December release) as well as the third (and final) season of Hemlock Grove. The former’s debut will be the second of many Marvel shows on the platform (following in the wake of Daredevil‘s success), and a new Marvel show will debut every six months. Better Call Saul‘s Bob Odenkirk’s anticipated reunion with his Mr. Show colleague David Cross, titled, aptly, With Bob and David, will also premiere later this year.

One show that did get a release date is Aziz Ansari’s Master of None, which hits the platform on November 6. Co-created by Parks and Recreation‘s Alan Yang and also starring H. John Benjamin and Noel Wells, the show will star Ansari as a listless thirty-something comedian living (or attempting to, anyway) in New York.

As for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the second season of the Emmy-nominated series begins filming next month. Tina Fey was on hand to express gratitude about the show’s multiple Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series (“So many people were watching [The Big Bang Theory] that they forgot to vote,” she quipped).

The cast and creators of the upcoming Narcos, meanwhile, spoke up about what to expect from the intense drama about the Pablo Escobar-run drug cartels. The series’ star Pedro Pascal perhaps had the quote of the day, comparing Narcos to his previous stint on Game of Thrones: “We don’t need dragons,” he said. “We’ve got cocaine.”

Finally, Sarandos spoke about Netflix’s multi-film deal with Adam Sandler, especially in the wake of the star’s latest box-office disaster in Pixels. ““We did our deal with Adam Sandler because he is an enormous international movie star,” he said, adding, “I don’t feel like I need to defend Adam Sandler.” Sandler’s The Ridiculous Six, set to premiere in December, caused controversy back in April when a group of Native American actors walked off the set in response to racially charged jokes, but Sarandos tried to cool the problematic flames. “When the movie comes out, people will see it’s fair,” he said.

Finally: despite the Olsen twins’ statement that they aren’t involved in the upcoming Full House reboot, Fuller House, Sarandos teased to the contrary. “There’s a bunch of stunt opportunity for them in the future, if they want to,” he said.

Other big announcements, as outlined in a press release from Netflix, are as follows:

• Longmire will make the jump to the streaming platform from A&E for its fourth season, which will premiere September 10.
• Chelsea Does, a new docu-series, will follow Chelsea Handler as she explores “topics of personal fascination: marriage, racism, technology and drugs.” There’s no release date, but it’ll lead up to the premiere of her talk show, which will premiere on Netflix next year.
• A Very Murray Christmas will arrive just in time for you-know-when, and the special is co-written by star Bill Murray and director Sofia Coppola, and will feature special guests like George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Phoenix, and more.
• Six comedy specials are set to premiere in the coming months. Demetri Martin: Live (At the Time) premieres August 14, Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy premieres October 2, Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers premieres October 16, John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid premieres November 13, Brent Morin premieres December 1, and Mike Epps: After Dark premieres December 18.
  
• Six new kids shows will premiere this year: Project Mc2 (August 7), Ever After High with Way Too Wonderland (August 14), Dinotrux (August 14), Puffin Rock (September 1), Popples (November), and Care Bears and Cousins (December).

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