Netflix has acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company, giving the streamer full rights to adapt the vast catalog of the beloved children's author, whose books include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox and many more classic titles.
As part of the arrangement, Netflix said in a statement it plans to create a "unique universe" of projects "across animated and live-action films and TV, publishing, games, immersive experiences, live theatre, consumer products and more." This opens up the possibility of seeing iconic characters like Willy Wonka and the Big Friendly Giant meeting in some capacity, but it remains to be seen how Netflix will extend the Dahl universe.
Netflix’s acquisition of the Roald Dahl Story Company builds on a previous arrangement it signed with the company in 2018, under which the streamer would create a slate of animated projects based on the author's works. Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) and Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet) are currently working on a series based on the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while an adaptation of Broadway's Matilda the Musical is also in development.
Dahl is one of the most adapted children's authors of all time. The prolific writer first got the Hollywood treatment in 1971 with the release of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which starred Gene Wilder as the titular character. Johnny Depp headlined the 2005 remake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Separate from the Netflix deal, Timothée Chalamet was recently cast in a Warner Bros. prequel based on the early life of the eccentric chocolate maker.
"As we bring these timeless tales to more audiences in new formats, we’re committed to maintaining their unique spirit and their universal themes of surprise and kindness, while also sprinkling some fresh magic into the mix," Netflix added in its statement. The streamer continued, "Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to write multiple new chapters of these beloved stories, delighting children and adults around the world for generations to come."
The last time audiences got to see a Dahl book come to life on screen was with HBO Max's 2020 adaptation of The Witches, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch. That film marked the second adaptation of The Witches following a 1990 version starring Anjelica Huston. Other movie adaptations of the author's works include James and the Giant Peach and Matilda -- both released in 1996 -- and Steven Spielberg's 2016 adaptation of The BFG.
Source: Netflix