Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is on the move.
The comedy, created by Tina Fey , is moving from its previous home on NBC to Netflix, the streaming service announced today. In addition to taking in the 13 episode first season, which was ordered by NBC in May 2014, Netflix has also greenlit a second season, also running 13 episodes.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which becomes Netflix’s first original series produced by Universal Television, follows Kimmy, who escapes from a doomsday cult and starts her life over in New York City. Its stars Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Sara Chase and Lauren Adams. The series will debut in all territories where Netflix has a presence – including the US, Canada, the UK & Ireland – in March 2015.
“The very construct of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — its offbeat premise, hilarious and rich characters and serialized storytelling — make it a perfect Netflix comedy series”, said Cindy Holland, Netflix’s Vice President of Original Content. “Tina and Robert’s unique comic voice and sensibility come through in this series and we could not be more excited to present Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt exclusively to Netflix members around the world.”
While Netflix has some history in picking up cancelled shows such as The Killing and just this past week Longmire, this marks the first time that the streaming giant has poached a series before it has aired on its originating network. The exact sequence of events is hazy and it is unclear if NBC, with a drama heavy midseason slate, decided to cancel the show and then Netflix stepped in; or if Netflix made a play for the series and NBC simply let it go.
“When the opportunity arose for Tina Fey and Robert Carlock to premiere their new show on Netflix with a two-season commitment, we decided this was the best possible scenario to launch this captivating new series”, said Robert Greenblatt NBC’s Chairman of Entertainment. “While it was originally developed for NBC, we have a very drama-heavy midseason schedule so we’re thrilled about this Netflix opportunity; it’s an instant win-win for everyone, including Tina, Robert and Universal Television.”