Netflix announced today that it has enlisted funnyman Judd Apatow to bring a new comedy series — simply titled “Love” — to the Big Red streaming service. The new Netflix original is licensed globally and set for a 2016 release in all Netflix territories.
The series, which Netflix has already made a two-season commitment to, follows Gus (played by Paul Rust of Inglourious Basterds) and Mickey (Gillian Jacobs of Community) “as they navigate the exhilarations and humiliations of intimacy, commitment, and other things they were hoping to avoid.”
Apatow, who has a reputation as a hands-on producer and writer, is perhaps best known for helming a host of well-received movies by both critics and viewers, including Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Superbad. But diehard Apatow fans may also know him for his part in creating the short-lived Freaks and Geeks, which has become something of a cult hit, thanks in no small part to its resurrection in the Netflix library. Netflix is no doubt looking for Apatow to spin a bit more comedy gold with his latest effort, which explains how he has managed to secure a two-season deal long before the series is even set to premiere.
Speaking about his confidence in Netflix’s newest addition, chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, said Apatow “has a unique comedic voice that manages to be delightful, insightful, and shockingly frank,” and that he brings “a whole new level of agony and ecstasy to this modern-day comedy of manners.” Apatow is seemingly happy with his new deal as well, claiming that the service “has been supportive in ways I couldn’t create in my wildest fever dreams.”
Netflix has been pretty busy as of late. Just within the last three weeks, the service has managed to expand into several European countries, pick up the new original culinary series Chef’s Table, nab exclusive post-season streaming rights to FOX’s upcoming Batman universe spinoff Gotham, and shell out a shocking $44 million to secure exclusive first-window streaming rights for NBC’s James Spader vehicle The Blacklist.
Love is set to debut with 10 episodes in 2016 and 12 more in 2017. The show is produced by Apatow Productions and Legendary Television, created and written by Apatow, Rust, and Lesley Arfin (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Girls), and executive-produced by Brent Forrester (The Office, The Simpsons).
