So that there will be fewer layoffs in the future? Netflix breaks new ground for the series starring the “Scream 6” star

Lately, Netflix has often been at the center of criticism because so many series are canceled – which is also because Netflix releases an incredible amount of new series and therefore “has” to cancel many more in order to be able to shoot more new series. Dissatisfied fans of the respective series that are no longer being continued are always left behind.

The way in which Netflix deals with new series projects also plays a role. Than so far, the streaming service has always taken a full season into use. This will then appear and only then will you know based on the number of calls whether it is worth producing more seasons.

The downside for the viewers: Because each project is released with an entire season and thus tested on a real audience, the series grows on many people – and these fans are then caught off guard when the show is canceled and often even left with cliffhangers. With their limited slots, classic TV channels have long been doing things differently: with the so-called pilot season.

Netflix is ​​doing a pilot for the first time!

As a rule, only pilot episodes of the existing series ideas are produced. These are then shown to a test audience and determined internally. Only a fraction of the pilots then become a full series squadron. This way only the most promising titles appear – and even those have been known to get canceled after a few episodes or a season, which is obviously annoying for audiences. But since many pilots don’t even see the light of day in the first place, there aren’t fans in these cases who instantly develop an emotional connection and then be disappointed that the series doesn’t materialize or continue.

For the first time in the company’s history, Netflix is ​​solely commissioning a pilot for the comedy series “Little Sky” from “Bonding” creator Rightor Doyle and starring “Scream VI” star Samara Weaving. Only then must it be decided whether a season will actually be produced. The streaming service is thus taking a completely new path – even if it is a very well-trodden path for all TV channels.

In “Little Sky”, Samara Weaving, who can be seen in the photo of our article, plays a worthless reporter who, despite her lack of talent, dreams of a big TV career. When she gets a tip that the mayor of the sleepy town of Little Sky has disappeared, she sees her chance. But she has no idea what she’s walking into…

Maybe a permanent change at Netflix?

This is reported by the industry magazine the first production of a pilot in the twelve years that Netflix commissions series itself is not yet a signal that the streaming service is completely changing its strategy. reported that she heard it that the decision was closely related to this particular project. Netflix executives are excited about the idea of ​​Little Sky, but want to see if the tone and chemistry of a major acting ensemble really works.

Still, the industry insider also reports that it is a “significant” move and believes that something could change at Netflix. After all, especially with comedy series, a pilot is simply the best way to find out if something that sounds funny on paper actually works when the cast plays together. According to Andreava, a pilot increases the chance that a series will succeed. With Netflix currently working de facto entire seasons as pilots, it’s “inevitable” that there will be so many cancellations. Netflix could really reduce the number of these.

The reporter, who has good connections in the industry, reports that there have been rumors for some time that Netflix wants to try out the pilot model. She also points out that the streaming service recently hired several executives for its series division, who come from classic TV channels and have worked with the pilot model so far.

However, one should not expect a typical so-called pilot season as with the broadcasters. All pilots are produced in parallel and then compete against each other for the open slots. With Netflix, the model would only ever be related to the series in question, for which the thumbs up or down. After all, the streaming service does not have the problem of only having limited slots available and therefore only being able to give the green light to a limited number of series.