According to sources, Netflix has offered Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd a nearly seven-figure deal to prevent rival services from snapping him up.
Netflix has reportedly offered the 35-year-old writer and actor almost £1million to create more hit shows exclusively for them.
The autobiographical, black comedy-thriller Baby Reindeer, based on Richard’s own experiences, was released on Netflix in April.
The miniseries is about an aspiring comedian and victim of sexual abuse who is stalked by a woman he meets as a barmaid in a bar.
A TV insider said The sun: ‘This is not yet a done deal, as both the streamer and Richard are negotiating the details of a contract that states he can start work on a new show as soon as possible.
According to reports, 35-year-old Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd has been given a new deal by Netflix to prevent rival services from acquiring him (pictured in June)
He is responsible for the successful autobiographical black comedy thriller Baby Reindeer, based on Richard’s own experiences, which was released on Netflix in April
The miniseries is about an aspiring comedian and victim of sexual abuse who is stalked by a woman he meets as a barmaid in a bar.
The fact that the film could ultimately gross a seven-figure box office shows how much Netflix wants to keep it ‘in-house’ after the incredible response to Baby Reindeer.
‘They hope they can reach an agreement that will allow Richard to produce a series of shows for them that can be just as successful and thought-provoking.’
This follows reports that Richards’ next project will be a Scottish drama series for US network HBO and the BBC.
Richard will write the script and executive produce the six-episode, 45-minute drama series. Spanning nearly 40 years, from the 1980s to the present, the series chronicles the relationship between two men, from their meeting as teenagers to their breakup as adults.
Production on Lions will begin in early 2025 in Glasgow, under the direction of Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck, with Wendy Griffin producing the series.
Tally Garner and Morven Reid will serve as executive producers for Mam Tor Productions, Richard, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland.
The news comes as a welcome distraction from reports that Baby Reindeer’s real-life stalker Fiona Harvey is suing Netflix for £135m, claiming the streaming giant’s series is not based on a true story.
Baby Reindeer portrays Richard’s character Donny Dunn, who is being stalked by Martha. Martha has been in prison for a historical crime and has now been sent to prison for stalking him.
A TV insider said: ‘This is not a done deal yet, as both the streamer and Richard are negotiating the details of a contract that would see him start work on a new show as soon as possible.’
They continued: ‘The fact that it could ultimately be worth seven figures reflects how much Netflix wants to keep it ‘in-house’ after the incredible response to Baby Reindeer’
This comes after reports that Richard’s next project will be a Scottish drama series for US network HBO and the BBC
Internet sleuths soon discovered that the character was based on Fiona.
Netflix has vowed to “vigorously defend” itself in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit.
According to her lawyers, Fiona no longer dared to go to the supermarket because fans of the Netflix series kept harassing her.
The 49-year-old Scot, who claims she is the inspiration behind the Netflix stalking drama, is suing the streaming giant for at least $170 million for defamation and negligence.
Speak about News NationAccording to CUOMO, Harvey’s attorney Richard Roth argued that Harvey is not a public figure and that she felt compelled to identify herself as the real Martha because she was being harassed.
“She’s being harassed, stalked, getting death threats, afraid to go grocery shopping, and she’s not a public figure,” Roth said.
“She is destroyed, she is shattered.”
Her lawyers argue that it was defamatory of Harvey to portray Martha as a convicted criminal.
“When Netflix starts a series, they don’t say, ‘This is based on a true story,’ and they don’t say, ‘This is inspired by a true story,’” Roth explains.
Meanwhile, real-life Baby Reindeer stalker Fiona Harvey is suing Netflix for £135million after claiming the streaming giant’s series was not based on a true story and that she was being unfairly harassed as a result.
“There are five words in there – ‘This is a true story’ – so make sure it’s true.”
The attorney continued: ‘Spoiler alert, it comes out during the series that she was convicted of stalking and spent four and a half years in prison. That never happened. She was never even arrested.
‘And then, at the end of the series, she pleads guilty to four different charges of harassment and is subsequently convicted of four more felonies.
“So they’re portraying this woman as a twice-convicted criminal, even though she’s never been arrested for anything.”
Roth went on to say that the series made it too easy to identify the woman who inspired Martha.
“Make her of a different heritage. Give her a different accent,” Roth suggested, before adding, “They didn’t do anything.
“Everything here leads back to Fiona Harvey, and it’s very easy to figure out who it is.”
Netflix has said it plans to “vigorously defend this case” and uphold Gadd’s “right to tell his story.”
MailOnline has contacted Netflix for comment.