Netflix embarks on second African original Blood & Water
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 26 February 2019

Streaming giant Netflix has commissioned a teen drama called Blood & Water as its second South African series.

Blood & Water centres on a local teen as she uncovers her family’s secret past and navigates the complicated world of a South African high school.

Set to launch globally in 2020, the series willbe directed by Nosipho Dumisa (Nommer 37) and feature a talented young South African cast and be filmed in 2019.

Nommer 37, which earned Dumisa (pictured) the Cheval Noir jury prize for Best Director at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec. She has also been nominated for best picture, among other categories, in this year’s SAFTA awards.

The team behind Nommer 37 has been reunited for the project. Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute will write and co-direct the series with Durmin, Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer on board as producers. Simon Beesley is lead editor.

“Gambit Films and I are so excited to be working with Netflix on this explosive young adult drama, with not only a cool look at strong female leads but also a powerful mystery at its core,” said Dumisa.

“As a director who loves genre, this series combines the best of so many and isn’t shy to delve into the real issues of youth culture, whilst jam-packing it with twists that will keep viewers guessing.”

Kelly Luegenbiehl, Netflix VP of international originals, Europe, Turkey and Africa, said: “We are delighted to be investing further in African content and to partner with Nosipho and the team at Gambit Films to bring our second original series from South Africa to Netflix. Great stories are universal, so we expect this gripping teen drama, with its view on contemporary high school life, to appeal to young adults from South Africa, as well as the rest of the world.”

The commission of Blood & Water follows Netflix announcement at the end of 2018 of its first African original, Queen Sono, starring South African actress Pearl Thusi. Queen Sono is expected to stream globally later this year.