Netflix round-up: Scandal producer inks overall deal, UCP vet joins int’l originals

Netflix has signed Scandal writer-producer Chris Van Dusen to a multi-year overall deal.

Under the deal, Van Dusen will create new series and other projects for the streaming platform.

His first will be the Untitled Bridgerton Project, a one-hour drama ordered straight-to-series, based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels.

Van Dusen will adapt, showrun and exec produce, along with former boss Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers through Shondaland.

The writer-producer is a homegrown Shondaland talent, where he first landed his first writing gig on Grey’s Anatomy. He most recently served as co-executive producer for Scandal.

“I couldn’t be more excited about being a part of the creative powerhouse that is Shondaland at Netflix,” said Van Dusen.

“Bringing these irresistible books by Julia Quinn to the screen, with the fearless and talented team of storytellers I’ve been so fortunate to have worked alongside for so long, is a dream come true. I am grateful to have a home at Netflix, whose commitment to innovative, groundbreaking storytelling is unmatched.”

Universal Cable Productions veteran joins int’l originals team

Stacy Fung, Universal Cable Productions’ former VP of current programming, has joined Netflix as a director on the international originals team.

Fung will report to Chris Sanagustin, director of international originals, with whom she worked at Universal Cable Productions. She will focus on original programming in the Brazilian market.

Netflix has made a push into originals from the region after the success of 3%. Other titles from Brazil include Spectros, Coisa Mais Linda and The Mechanism.

Dogs docuseries scores premiere date

Dogs is the latest docuseries set to premiere globally on Netflix this autumn.

The six-episode series, which debuts on November 16, tracks six individual stories that celebrate the relationship between humans and canines from countries including Syria, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy and the US.

Dogs is from Glen Zipper and Amy Berg. The first episode, directed by Jesus Camp and Detropia filmmaker Heidi Ewing, follows an 11 year-old girl who suffers from traumatic seizures and is aided by therapy dog Rory.

“Dogs don’t just make us feel loved, dogs make us feel safe,” says Zipper. “In the world we live in today, no matter how divided we are, we should take care to realize how much dogs mean to all of us, and how our bond with them can help bring us together.”