After an extended delay, Reign is finally coming to UK.
Netflix UK has acquired the exclusive UK streaming rights to The CW’s period drama after striking a deal with international distributor CBS Studios International, TVWise has confirmed. The first and second seasons of Reign are now available to stream for subscribers.
Penned by Stephanie Sengupta and Laurie McCarthy, Reign tells the previously unknown and untold story of Mary Queen of Scots’ rise to power when she arrives in France as a 15-year-old, betrothed to Prince Francis, and with her three best friends as ladies-in-waiting. The drama is produced by CBS Television Studios and stars Adelaide Kane, Anna Popplewell, Toby Regbo, Celina Sinden, Megan Follows, Janessa Grant, Caitlin Stasey, Torrance Coombs and Rossif Sutherland.
CBS Studios International first launched Reign to international buyers at the LA Screenings in 2013, which co-incidentally was the first year that UK OTT services such as Netflix and Amazon started sending their buyers to the yearly event. Back then, there was very little interest from any of the UK buyers in Reign, though the BBC did briefly consider acquiring it for BBC Two. With this deal CBSSI has now sold every single new title from their 2013 slate into the UK, having previously lined up deals for The Millers, Ray Donovan, Reckless, King & Maxwell, Under The Dome and Star-Crossed.
This also marks the latest exclusive acquisition for Netflix UK, which is home to such U.S. dramas as Once Upon A Time, Better Call Saul, Pretty Little Liars, It’s Always Sunny Philadelphia and The League. Notably, the acquisitions also comes a mere two weeks before the third season of Reign is set to premiere on The CW in the United States. It is not immediately clear if Netflix UK will make new episodes available shortly after their U.S. broadcast, as they do with Once Upon A Time and Better Call Saul, for example.
