Netflix announces start of production of upcoming Brazilian films and series, including four new titles

Brazilian members are spending more time watching Brazilian titles on Netflix in 2022 than ever before. And there is so much more to come for these fans: until the end of the year, even more of their favorite Brazilian films, series, reality shows, and comedy specials will go into production. Combining new seasons and never-seen-before shows, productions will take place in five different states in Brazil, from Amazonas to Paraná.

These productions reinforce Netflix’s commitment to the Brazilian audiovisual industry, in a partnership of more than seven years since Netflix began producing locally in 2015. “We want our creative and production partners to have the best experience working with us to bring incredible stories to our members. And while today the landscape is very different from where we started, there is one thing that remains absolutely the same: our commitment to the Brazilian creative community. Brazil is a fundamental part of our strategy,” says Elizabetta Zenatti, Netflix Vice President of Brazil Content. 

DNA do Crime, an investigative crime series is among the announcements of new titles. It is directed by Heitor Dhalia, a renowned professional from Pernambuco. The story follows the complex work of federal police officers in an unprecedented investigation that culminates at the beginning of a thread that unravels, like no other, the construction of crime in the country. The series is produced by Paranoid Filmes.

When it comes to comedy, Leandro Hassum cannot be left out. And the only thing better than one Hassum is two of him. The comedy fans will enjoy the actor twice as much with two new titles produced by Camisa Listrada, B.O., the first series of Hassum at Netflix, and the film Meu Cunhado é um Vampiro. From Director Pedro Amorim and Headwriter Carol Garcia, B.O. is set in a police station in Rio de Janeiro, where the clumsy Suzano (played by Hassum) becomes the chief officer after being transferred from the countryside. In the film, directed by Alê McHaddo and written by Paulo Cursino, Fernandinho (played by Hassum) is a family man, former football player, and a current podcast commentator that is surprised by the visit of his inconvenient brother-in-law, Gregorio (played by Romulo Arantes Neto),  who discovers to be lazy and a bloodsucker… a vampire!

Still, for some laughs, the original comedy special from Whindersson Nunes, Whindersson Nunes: Isso não é um Culto, was recently filmed in the city of Porto, Portugal. The show is marked by the nostalgia and boldness of the comedian on stage.
Netflix has also started the production of the fictional miniseries, inspired by the tragedy known as the Candelaria massacre. With four episodes, the production will mix realism, fantasy, and Afrofuturism to reveal the history of four children in the 36 hours that preceded the tragedy, from the point of view of each of them. Each episode will have renowned Brazilian actors, such as Antônio Pitanga and Péricles, who have already recorded their first scenes. Adriano Garib, Juliana Lohmann, Leandro Firmino, Maria Bopp, and Stepan Nercessian, among others names, are on the list. Directed by Marcia Faria and Luis Lomenha, who also is the showrunner and executive producer, the series is produced by Kromaki and Jabuti Films.

To complement, Netflix continues betting on the continuation of several successful local projects including sequels of the film Rich In Love, season 4 of Sintonia, season 2 of Back to 15, a second season of the Brazilian sitcom Smother-in-Lawand the third season of the reality show Love Is Blind: Brazil.

In addition to these productions, in 2022, Netflix is investing 5 million Brazilian reais in initiatives for the development of professionals in Brazil’s audiovisual community, as part of the investment in the local industry – something that has been carried out since the company started production in Brazil. These are projects that aim to collaborate with the expansion and improvement of the network of local talents and also promote more diverse and inclusive narratives based on the approximation, identification, and training for professionals from historically under-represented groups. As part of this strategy, Netflix is kicking off a new initiative called “Segundo Ato” for black and indigenous screenwriters as part of the Brazilian industry.