Ryan Murphy signs $300m deal with Netflix

Prolific showrunner Ryan Murphy has signed a 5 year deal with Netflix reportedly worth US$300m.

The man behind such hits as Glee, American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Feud and Nip / Tuck will produce new series and films for the streaming giant effective July 1, when his deal with 20th Television expires.

The signing is a coup for the streaming giant, which recently signed Shonda Rhimes and Jenji Kohan to deals.

The Hollywood Reporter notes Murphy was considering several offers and had adopted a “wait-and-see” approach in determining his future with 20th Television in the wake of the studio’s pending sale to Disney.

“Ryan Murphy’s series have influenced the global cultural zeitgeist, reinvented genres and changed the course of television history. His unfaltering dedication to excellence and to give voice to the underrepresented, to showcase a unique perspective or just to shock the hell out of us, permeates his genre-shattering work,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix. “From Nip/Tuck — our first licensed series — to American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson and American Horror Story, we’ve seen how his brand of storytelling captivates consumers and critics across the globe. His celebrated body of work and his contributions to our industry speak for themselves, and we look forward to supporting Ryan in bringing his broad and diverse stories to the world.”

“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.”

Netflix recently picked up two Murphy-produced shows, The Politician and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest prequel Ratched, fronted by Murphy’s frequent collaborator Sarah Paulson.