Commentary

Netflix Draws A-List Talent For 'What's Next' In 2025

With the slogan “You’re Not Ready For What’s Next,” Netflix this week laid out its slate of new content for the coming year, highlighting partnerships and projects with A-list creators and stars.

The group includes Ben Affleck, Tina Fey, Robert De Niro, Lena Dunham, comedian John Mulaney, movie director Guillermo del Toro and others.

“No matter what you’re looking forward to this year, there’s no way to be completely ready for what’s next on Netflix,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria (above photo) at an annual showcase of upcoming films, series and games held at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.

In her presentation, Bajaria positioned Netflix as a sprawling, global content provider that is intent on being all things to all people. “With more than 700 million people watching, we can’t just be one thing,” she said. “We need to be the best version of everything.” 

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Netflix is continuing its relationship with Tina Fey with a new comedy, “The Four Seasons,” adapted from the 1981 movie of the same name written by Alan Alda.

De Niro is starring in his first TV series. In the limited drama series -- titled “Zero Day” and premiering February 20 -- he plays a former President of the United States who leads an investigation into a cyberattack that killed thousands and wreaked widespread havoc.

“Right now, our actual world is scarier,” said De Niro, who has been openly critical of President Trump for years.

The cast of “Zero Day” includes Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Connie Britton, Joan Allen, Matthew Modine and Angela Bassett.

Two new made-for-Netflix films coming this year include “Frankenstein,” del Toro’s new take on the book and movie monster story; and “RIP,” a crime thriller co-starring Affleck and pal Matt Damon.

“Over the decades, the [Frankenstein] character has fused with my soul in a way that it has become autobiography,” del Toro enthused. “It doesn’t get more personal than this.”

Mulaney will headline what appears to be Netflix’s first foray into live, late-night TV, albeit once a week. 

The show, set to premiere March 12, is called “Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney. “We will be live globally with no delay. We will never be relevant. We will never be your source for news. We will always be reckless,” Mulaney said.

Other series on the way include “The Beast In Me,” starring Claire Danes as a novelist with writers block who is intrigued by a new neighbor who moves next door (Matthew Rhys).

Also on the way are two projects from Tyler Perry -- a new entry in Perry’s “Madea” series of movie comedies, “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding”; and a new series from Perry, “She The People.”

Also coming this year are new seasons of Netflix hits “Wednesday,” “Squid Game” and “Stranger Things,” which has not had new episodes since 2022.

Missing from the presentation materials was any mention of Will Ferrell, who has had a comedy series in development for Netflix since at least 2023. 

The show, titled “Golf,” is planned to be a sports spoof in the tradition of Ferrell’s sports movies such as “Semi-Pro” and “Blades of Glory.” 

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