Netflix has set “Penelope,” a coming-of-age series from Duplass Brothers Productions, for a Sept. 24 premiere in the U.S.
The series is led by Megan Stott (“Little Fires Everywhere”), who plays the title role. Per the official logline, Penelope is “a 16-year-old girl who, feeling deeply out of place in her contemporary surroundings, leaves her life and family behind and treks into the wilds of Washington State. As she establishes an alternative life for herself, survivalism and coming-of-age coalesce in this poignant journey toward self-discovery.”
Alongside Stott, the cast includes Austin Abrams (“Euphoria,” “The Walking Dead”) and Krisha Fairchild (“Krisha”).
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Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show,” “Togetherness”) co-created the series with showrunner Mel Eslyn (“Biosphere”), president of Duplass Brothers Productions, which independently financed “Penelope” before taking it to Netflix. The project is the flagship of their new focus on indie television in response to the decline of Peak TV.
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Speaking to Variety in March, before “Penelope” landed at Netflix, Duplass explained the model, wherein the company is creating multiple series without seeking production funds from larger studios in order to retain creative control and worldwide rights.
“Test it on your service. If it’s successful, we can be rewarded with a longer license,” he said. “If it isn’t, we didn’t make you risk too much. I can go sell in eight other territories around the world to get whole again financially.”
Thus, “Penelope” is currently set to premiere in the U.S. alone.
This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into licensing indie TV productions. In February, the streamer announced that it had bought the Shane Gillis comedy “Tires,” which it renewed for a second season ahead of its late May premiere. In April, Netflix greenlit dark comedy series from Tom Segura based on an independently produced pilot.
See images from “Penelope” above and below, alongside key art from Akiko Stehrenberger.
