Netflix Sets New Tabletop Cinematic Universe Ahead Of Dungeons & Dragons Series

Netflix is expanding its recent moves in adapting popular tabletop games into films and TV shows after sealing the rights to Catan, giving the streamer a big boost to its franchise potential. This strategic play comes as Netflix is also in the midst of developing a live-action Dungeons and Dragons TV show, based on the iconic fantasy tabletop role-playing game.

According to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Netflix has officially secured the exclusive global rights to the board game, which debuted in 1995 as The Settlers of Catan. The streaming service now plans to develop live-action and animated Catan films, a scripted TV show, unscripted projects, and video games.

Over the past 30 years, the Catan board game has sold over 45 million copies, been translated into more than 40 languages, and received numerous awards. The multiplayer game sees players become “settlers,” who navigate various landscapes while developing holdings, trading and gaining resources, forming alliances, and avoiding the villainous robbers.

Alongside Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee, these projects under Netflix will all be produced by Darren Kyman, of the game’s publisher Asmodee, Catan Studio’s Pete Fenlon, and Catan creator Klaus Teuber’s sons Guido and Benjamin Teuber. Per Jinny Howe, Netflix’s Head of Scripted Series in the US and Canada:

“Anyone who has played Catan knows that the intense strategy at the core of the game has endless opportunities for some serious drama. We’re thrilled to partner across series, features, animation, and games to bring this world to life for hardcore ‘Settlers’ and new fans alike.”

Catan game publisher Asmodee already has a long-established relationship with Netflix, following the streamer’s adaptation of their card game The Werewolves of Miller Hollow, and Asmodee creating board games based on Netflix hits like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Squid Game.

Netflix’s adaptations will mark the first time in the game’s 30-year history that a feature film or TV series has hit screens. There have been some attempts in the past, however, with a report from 2015 revealing that producer Gail Katz had purchased the game’s film and TV rights, followed by a 2017 report that Sony was negotiating rights to a Catan movie with Katz attached.

The beginning of a Catan film and TV universe joins Netflix’s growing efforts in adapting popular video games and board games in various formats. Some of Netflix’s most popular game adaptations include Arcane, Castlevania, and Exploding Kittens, with the streamer also having upcoming live-action Dungeons and Dragons and ᴀssᴀssin’s Creed TV shows in the works.