Following the success of video game adaptations such as The Witcher, Arcane, and the recently launched Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, Netflix earlierAnnounceThe tentacles of its IP adaptation have officially expanded from video games to classic table games.
Netflix announced a partnership with Asmodee, the world's largest tabletop game publishing and distribution group. The two parties will jointly develop new movies and TV shows based on the globally popular tabletop game "Catan", with multiple projects currently in preparation.
Continuing the "Barbie" craze, any IP can be adapted
This move once again confirms Hollywood's content strategy in the "post-Barbie era": any highly recognizable IP asset, regardless of its original medium, has the potential to become the source of the next popular film and television work.
Netflix is no stranger to adapting games into popular streaming content, but has primarily focused on video games in the past. This time, they're turning to the physical tabletop game "Settlers of Catan," clearly driven by its global popularity and core strategy gameplay.
Live action, animation, and reality shows are all possible
The core gameplay of "The Settlers of Catan" is that players collect resources and build civilization on a remote island. The process is full of strategic alliances, resource exchanges and mutual obstacles between players.
"Anyone who has played 'Settlers of Catan' knows that the intense strategy and negotiation at its core offer endless possibilities for serious dramatic conflict," Jinny Howe, head of scripted series for Netflix in the U.S. and Canada, said in a press release.
Therefore, it's not hard to imagine Catan being adapted into a competitive reality show similar to The Traitors. Netflix has also confirmed that both live-action and animated projects are under discussion.
Asmodee collaborates again, and the "Exploding Cats" model continues
This collaboration with Asmodee is no stranger to Netflix. Previously, Netflix's adaptation of "Exploding Kittens" was one of Asmodee's games. At the time, Netflix adopted a dual-track strategy, releasing not only the "Exploding Kittens" animated series but also an exclusive mobile game on the Netflix Games platform.
The adaptation of "The Settlers of Catan" will be co-produced by Darren Kyman, senior vice president of media development at Asmodee, Pete Fenlon, game designer at Catan Studio, and Guido Teuber and Benjamin Teuber, the two sons of "The Settlers of Catan" creator Klaus Teuber.
In addition to Catan and Exploding Cats, Netflix is also actively developing a board game adaptation of Monopoly and Assassin's Creed.Video game adaptations, continues to expand its IP universe.
