Black Mirror to return on Netflix
Black Mirror is to return for 12 brand new episodes.
Charlie Brooker's dark anthology series has been picked up by US-based on-demand service Netflix, and will begin filming later this year.
The new series may yet be seen on Channel 4, however, with Netflix saying that "plans are still being determined" for the programmes in the UK and Ireland. Netflix will control exclusive distribution in all other countries it operates in.
Originally running for two series of three episodes and an additional Christmas special on Channel 4, the comedy drama - dubbed "a hybrid of The Twilight Zone and Tales of the Unexpected" - has been met with critical claim in the US, where Netflix bought rights to distribute it exclusively via its internet platform.
Playing on "the collective unease about our modern world", the series is often heavily focused on technology and contemporary notions of celebrity, with each programme following a different and thus-far entirely self-contained story. Episodes broadcast to date have focused on politics; artificial intelligence; robotics; reality television; and social interaction.
The 12 new episodes will be produced by Brooker's new production company, House Of Tomorrow, part of Endemol. Brooker has already begun writing the programmes, and will act as showrunner alongside executive producer Annabel Jones.
Charlie Brooker says: "It's all very exciting - a whole new bunch of Black Mirror episodes on the most fitting platform imaginable. Netflix connects us with a global audience so that we can create bigger, stranger, more international and diverse stories than before, whilst maintaining that Black Mirror feel. I just hope none of these new story ideas come true."
Famously, the first ever episode of the programme involved the fictional British Prime Minister being forced to perform a sex act upon a pig, live on television, as part of a bizarre ransom demanded by a twisted performance artist for the release of kidnapped Princess Susannah. The story hit the headlines this week when it was claimed that current Prime Minister David Cameron had engaged in a lewd initiation ritual with a dead pig's head whilst studying at Oxford University.
Writing on Twitter, Brooker quipped: "Shit. Turns out Black Mirror is a documentary series." Referring to a later episode, he added: "I hope White Bear doesn't come true next."
Netflix began life as a provider of film and television content, but in recent years has branched into productions of its own original series, the most famous of which, House of Cards, is based on a 1990 BBC political thriller of the same name. The company has also begun buying up US and other international rights to British programming, including Black Mirror.
Channel 4 sitcom Scrotal Recall and ITV's The Delivery Man have both been bought by the company for exclusive distribution in other countries, and are also both subject of recommissioning rumours.
To date, Netflix's preferred release model has been to publish every new episode of its commissions on the same day, however this could change with Black Mirror, as the platform say: "Premiere date and episode rollout will be announced at a later date."
This suggests the platform operators may be considering a more gradual roll-out for the series, more in keeping with its episodes' standalone, non-linear nature.
Cindy Holland, Netflix's Vice President for original content says: "Charlie has created a one-of-a-kind series with an uncanny voice and prescient, darkly comedic vision. We're tremendously proud to bring Black Mirror to our members as a Netflix original series."
Below is the trailer Netflix has released: