With echoes of the recent HBO Max Batgirl cancellation, Netflix has just pulled the pin on a production of Dark Horse comics-inspired series Grendel. The decision was made after the bulk of filming has been completed on the 8-episode series. Producers are now shopping the series elsewhere.

The comic series is about an avenging fencer who is taking on New York crime families before getting involved in the world of crime himself.

Abubakr Ali was set to star as the titular Grendel, which Deadline says is the first Arab Muslim male actor to portray a series lead in a comic book adaptation. I don't know for sure if that is true. But it sounds true.

‘Grendel’ TV Series Adaptation Not Moving Forward at Netflix
“Grendel” is no longer happening at Netflix, Variety has confirmed. Based on Matt Wagner’s popular comic books, the series (which had an eight episode order) follows Hunter Rose, …
VarietyBreAnna Bell

Netflix has other priorities

The US streamer has announced it is making a new show called Supersex, which is a look at the life of Italian porn star Rocco Stiffredi (I assume that's a stage name). As I'm sure we are all aware, Stiffredi was best known as the star and producer of the Buttman movies.

The show is described as being about:

Supersex plans to tell the soup-to-nuts story of Rocco from his childhood and family origins through his “relationship with love” that led him to pursue a career in porn.
Netflix to Make ‘Supersex’ Series Inspired by Italian Porn Star Rocco Siffredi
Alessandro Borghi will play Rocco, the film actor and producer famous for his ‘Buttman’ series of adult movies.
The Hollywood ReporterScott Roxborough

Changed priorities at the BBC

An interesting comment by Tim Davie, the head of the BBC:

"The first figures I get are not broadcast figures anymore, but online ratings"
BBC Boss Tim Davie on Diversity Targets, Future Funding, Possible World Service Cuts
Tim Davie tells the RTS London Convention: “Good intent is not enough” on socio-economic diversity and inclusion targets.
The Hollywood ReporterGeorg Szalai
  • Jennifer Ehle, an actor who should have been a huge star as big as the biggest of them, has just joined the cast of Yellowstone prequel 1923. Read: Variety
  • CCH Pounder has joined the cast of the Steven Soderbergh HBO drama Full Circle. Read: Variety
  • US retail giant Walmart has launched a metaverse experience within Roblox to sell kids some toys. Read: The Verge
  • Star Trek fans should take a read into this deep dive about the revitalisation of Star Trek on TV currently underway. It mentions an interesting trivia point: there are now more Star Trek shows on TV right now than there have been Star Trek series in the history of the franchise. Huh. Read: Polygon

The Playlist is a slightly fictionalised re-telling of the origins of Spotify. It is debuting on Netflix Oct 13.

That's it for today. A very short and tidy newsletter.