• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, November 24, 2021

In the latest evidence of its doubling down on content, Netflix has inked a deal to acquire one of the industry’s premiere special effects companies, Scanline VFX.

Terms of the acquisition, expected to close in Q1 2022, were not disclosed.

Netflix said that Scanline VFX — which is headquartered in Munich, with offices in Los Angeles, London, Vancouver, Montreal Stuttgart and Seoul — will continue to serve other clients, as well as Netflix. Netflix will also continue to use other special-effects houses.

“Netflix will invest in Scanline’s pipeline, infrastructure and workforce and continue to support the pioneering work that Scanline’s Eyeline Studios is doing in virtual production to push the boundaries of what is visibly possible,” Amy Reinhard, VP of studio operations for Netflix, said in announcing the agreement.

Scanline VFX, known for its expertise in complex, photorealistic effects and virtual production, has worked on Netflix original series including “Stranger Things” (seasons 3 and 4) and “Cowboy Bebop,” and upcoming original films including “Don’t Look Up” and “The Gray Man.”

Outside of Netflix, the company has worked on numerous Marvel movies, including “Eternals,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Black Widow” and “Black Panther.” Other credits include “Game of Thrones,” “Joker” and “Godzilla vs. King Kong.” In-production projects include “The Batman,” “The Flash” and “Black Adam.”