EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate Television’s The Hunting Wives has become a true phenomenon — but so far primarily in the U.S. The show’s surprising success on Netflix has something to do with that as Lionsgate is in advanced negotiations with the streamer for a Season 2 renewal as a global original, sources tell Deadline.
When the raunchy Texas drama starring Malin Åkerman and Brittany Snow made a no-frills domestic debut on Netflix on July 21 as part of a one-year U.S. licensing deal with Lionsgate, The Hunting Wives already had launched on Stan in Australia, Crave in Canada, OSN in the Middle East and HOT in Israel.
At the time, Lionsgate had sold the series in 10 additional territories, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy and India, with plans to roll out the show in them soon thereafter. (Netflix was not a buyer in any of the countries.)
But, despite The Hunting Wives‘ outsized success in the U.S., those plans have been put on hold, with no new international launches for the show since its Netflix debut more than six weeks ago.
There is a reason for that — as Netflix is getting deep in negotiations with Lionsgate about a Season 2 renewal for the breakout hit, all of these deals have to be reworked for that to happen, a process that is currently underway, I hear.
Reps for Netflix and Lionsgate declined comment.
As Deadline explained back in July, The Hunting Wives — originally developed and produced by Lionsgate and 3 Arts Entertainment for then-sibling Starz before the studio acquired back the rights in the two companies’ May split — is not a Netflix original and does not carry the streamer’s “N” branding at the start of each episode.
To get a Season 2 renewal, the series would have to become a Netflix original, which requires global rights. That is the hurdle Lionsgate has to overcome to secure the pickup, with the studio’s distribution team hard at work to secure those rights from current local buyers.
That is a painstaking process other studios have gone through, when shows like Warner Bros.’ You, Lucifer and Manifest as well as Designated Survivor, whose global distribution was handled by eOne, became Netflix originals having been already sold internationally.
It’s complicated and it takes time but both Lionsgate and Netflix are motivated following The Hunting Wives‘ breakthrough that few saw coming as the series struck a chord with viewers across the country — and across the political spectrum — with its Starz-style steamy romance set against the background of “MAGA country” and “Coastal elite” culture clash.
Since launching with little fanfare and no formal promotional campaign on a Monday, the series has been a staple on Netflix’s U.S. Top 10 for six weeks running, including a stint at No.1, and also spent its first five weeks in the Global Top 10 despite not being available outside of the U.S..
Based on Netflix’s renewal history, that is a level of performance which would typically secure a pickup, giving the streamer another potent title that, up until a couple of months ago wasn’t even on its radar. (It was overseas Netflix reps that alerted their U.S. counterparts about The Hunting Wives after Lionsgate screened it for international buyers in London, leading to the domestic licensing deal, sources said.)
As for Lionsgate, the prospect of another long-running Netflix hit following the studio’s Orange Is The New Black that helped put the streamer on the original series map more a decade ago is undoubtedly appealing as the indie studio is looking to ramp up its TV output following its separation from Starz.
A renewal is expected soon, I hear.
Created by Rebecca Cutter based on May Cobb’s bestselling novel, The Hunting Wives tells the story of Sophie (Snow) and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Åkerman) irresistible charms – and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction and murder.
The Season 1 finale sets up a potential second season of a battle royale between Margo and Sophie, so the series has a map creatively, and the cast has options for more seasons, I hear.
All that is left now is for Netflix and Lionsgate to seal the deal.
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