Netflix has announced it has secured an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. to bring new series Gotham to the worldwide streaming service after the initial broadcast on Fox television.
Gotham will begin airing on Fox in the United States on September 22nd for its first season consisting of sixteen episodes before making its way onto Netflix as soon as the first run ends in early 2015 where the full season will become available for online viewing.
The latest lucrative deal for the on-demand home of popular telly such as Breaking Bad means the new Gotham show will air in all global regions where the service is available, and no other streaming companies will get to show it. Netflix says in a statement:
“Gotham is the most anticipated new series of the fall season and we are thrilled to offer it to our members around the world. The Batman origin story is sure to have massive global appeal so it is fitting that, along with Warner Television, we have created a new model for distributing a show that international and domestic audiences will love.”
Gotham is set in the world of DC Comics hero Batman but is set years before the Dark Knight first took flight. The anticipated series centres on Detective James Gordon (played by Ben McKenzie) and will feature appearances from a young Bruce Wayne and a rogues gallery of notorious villains will appear in each episode. They include the Penguin, The Riddler and Catwoman before they made their names and there is even hint that Batman’s most notorious future nemesis The Joker will feature in the show.
The UK will get to visit Gotham this Autumn on Channel 5 but with no fixed air date but we would imagine Netflix will make us wait until the series ends on this side of the pond before making it available to view on Netflix UK and Ireland. It also uncertain whether Netflix will look to become the exclusive source for future seasons should the show prove a success.