Netflix has released the first look at its upcoming comedy series BLOCKBUSTER.
The photograph was released as part of the Netflix Is A Joke festival and shows the series' stars Randall Park and Melissa Fumero on set.
The series acts as one final light-hearted jab from Netflix at the American-based home movie and video game rental service founded by David Cook – of which there is only one store left in the whole world.
BLOCKBUSTER will focus on the the ups and downs of trying to make a small business succeed, set in one of the service's stores, the action filmed with a single camera.
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It is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of those who worked for the company, after the downwards spiral which saw all but one of its stores close.
Blockbuster went bankrupt in the US in 2011, and in 2013, the company went into administration.
It went bust after focusing too closely on its physical stores, as opposed to the growing developments in streaming films online and video rental in a digital age, with sites such as Netflix getting rid of the faff of posting DVDs back by mail and late fees.
The fact the series is getting released onto one of its biggest competitors' sites – and one of which had a role in bringing about its downfall – can only add to the sting.
However, the reception from social media users to the photograph has shown that Blockbuster still has many supporters – or perhaps Netflix just has many haters.
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One user praised the move. "Netflix producing a series about the company they put out of business may be one of the greatest flexes of all time," they wrote.
However, another responded: "Netflix producing a series about the company they put out of business as theyre starting to go out of business themselves may be one of the greatest flexes of all time*."
One user suggested Netflix are tempting the same fate as Blockbuster: "Netflix making this like they won’t end up in the same grave as Blockbuster in a year," they wrote.
While someone else agreed the shoe could end up on the other foot: "Disney rn producing the show on Netflix downfall," they said, accompanied by a collage of Tom Cruise laughing.
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The upcoming series was created by Vanessa Ramos, while David Caspe and Jackie Clarke are filling the roles of executive producers and writers. They are joined by Davis Entertainment's John Davis and John Fox who will also executive produce.
Alongside Park and Fumero, the cast also includes JB Smoove, Kamaia Fairburn, Madeleine Arthur, Olga Merediz and Tyler Alvarez.
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Topics: Netflix, Film and TV, Entertainment
