Ryan Murphy is joining Shonda Rhimes at Netflix.
The prolific producer behind American Horror Story and American Crime Story will exit his longtime home at 20th Century Fox Television in favor of a mega-deal at Netflix that is said to be for five years and worth $300 million, according to The New York Times.
Netflix made the announcement late Tuesday that Murphy and his Ryan Murphy Productions banner will produce new series and films for the streaming giant effective July 1, when his deal with 20th Television expires.
The Netflix deal arrives after Murphy said he was taking a “wait-and-see” approach to determining his future with 20th Television in the wake of the studio’s pending sale to Disney. (The $52 billion deal is awaiting regulatory approval.) Murphy is said to have had several deals on the table, including from all three streaming services as well as a multiple-year offer from 20th Television to stay in what sources estimate was a $35 million-$40 million annual pact. Given the television studio’s uncertain future amid a pending Disney acquisition, Murphy opted for the Rhimes-like Netflix deal. Murphy’s departure from 20th Television comes as a blow to Disney, who lost Rhimes to the streaming giant last year in a deal worth what sources say was $100 million.
With Murphy, as with Rhimes, Netflix is adding a showrunner whom its audience already has embraced. The streamer boasts a library
that includes
American Horror Story and
American Crime Story, among others. Additionally, Netflix recently picked up two Murphy-produced shows straight to series in the star-studded
The Politician and
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest prequel
Ratched, fronted by Murphy’s frequent collaborator Sarah Paulson.
“The history of this moment is not lost on me,” Murphy said. “I am a gay kid from Indiana who moved to Hollywood in 1989 with $55 in savings in my pocket, so the fact that my dreams have crystallized and come true in such a major way is emotional and overwhelming to me. I am awash in genuine appreciation for Ted Sarandos, Reed Hastings and Cindy Holland at Netflix for believing in me and the future of my company which will continue to champion women, minorities and LGBTQ heroes and heroines, and I am honored and grateful to continue my partnership with my friends and peers at Fox on our existing shows.”
Murphy will continue to serve as an exec producer on FX’s American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Feud, Pose and Fox’s 911, the latter of which has already been renewed for next season.
The Netflix deal will, at least for now, split Murphy from 20th Television and Fox co-president Dana Walden, with industry chatter this week that the executive could move to run Murphy’s Netflix-based company if the executive does not get a top post once the Fox-Disney deal is finalized.
Ryan Murphy Leaves 20th TV for Netflix Mega-Deal
