Netflix has commissioned another local South African drama series - it's second - with Blood & Water, a high school drama following a girl who discovers her family's secret past, that will start production later this year and be released globally in 2020.
Blood & Water, produced by Gambit Films, follows after Netflix's first locally-acquired drama series, Shadow from Motion Story Pictures, and its first South African commissioned series, Queen Sono, a spy drama series with Pearl Thusi produced by Diprente.
Nosipho Dumisa will be Blood & Water director, featuring an as yet unannounced up and coming cast. The South African high school drama series will revolve around a girl who uncovers her family's secret past whilst dealing with high school life and challenges.
Blood & Water is written and co-directed by Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute, with Nosipho, Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer as producers and Simon Beesley as lead editor.
"We are delighted to be investing further in African content and to partner with Nosipho and the team at Gambit Films to bring our second original series from South Africa to Netflix," says Kelly Luegenbiehl, vice president of international originals at Netflix for the Europe, Turkey and Africa territory.
"Great stories are universal, so we expect this gripping teen drama, with its view on contemporary high school life, to appeal to young adults from South Africa, as well as the rest of the world."
"Following on the heels of Queen Sono, Blood & Water is the next step in our further investment in original African content and we're excited to explore more projects across the region."
"Gambit Films and I are so excited to be working with Netflix on this explosive young adult drama, with not only a cool look at strong female leads but also a powerful mystery at its core," says Nosipho Dumisa.
"As a director who loves genre this series combines the best of so many and isn't shy to delve into the real issues of youth culture, whilst jam-packing it with twists that will keep viewers guessing."
