Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a beloved classic for many. But the author of the original book, Roald Dahl, wrote a number of other stories, as well. Many of them have film and stage show adaptations, such as Matilda and The BFG, and spread to the imaginations of many children and adults, the world over. Now Netflix, continuing to expand its younger audience, is getting in on that nostalgia. Many of Roald Dahl’s works now join Netflix’s library, but not through their existing film adaptations. Instead, Netflix aims to adapt them in animated form, announced through a recent statement and video on their YouTube channel.
The announcement came with a statement from the author’s widow, Felicity Dahl.
Our mission, which is purposefully lofty, is for as many children as possible around the world to experience the unique magic and positive message of Roald Dahl’s stories.
This push towards more content aimed at younger audiences makes decent business sense. Disney also has its own streaming service on the way in the form of Disney+. And more streaming services crop up constantly to provide Netflix with some degree of competition in specific markets. So it’s only reasonable that Netflix continues pushing further into those markets to stay competitive.
Few details exist on the scope of what’s being done. The word “universe” came up multiple times. Obviously, that word means something very specific in the entertainment world these days. Thanks in no small part to Marvel, the idea of a connected universe bleeds into many different works. However, it’s possible that the term is being used in a broader sense that doesn’t imply any connectivity, at all. Netflix intends to “expand” on Dahl’s stories. How they plan to do that is unknown, however.
Netflix mentioned no names currently attached to this project. Nor did they reveal any planned production or release dates.
