Netflix is reportedly in “advance talks” to acquire EuropaCorp, one of Europe’s biggest independent film studios which was founded by French filmmaker Luc Besson.
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According to /Film, the streaming service, which for all intents and purposes is akin to a movie studio now, wants to expand its content drive, which has resulted in the acquisition of Mark Millar’s comic hub known as Millarworld, as well as movies from Paramount Studios such as The Cloverfield Paradox and Annihilation recently.
Last January, rumors suggested that Netflix was simply looking at a multi-picture deal with Besson’s brainchild for the future, but now things have apparently escalated to a full-blown acquisition with both parties aiming to seal the deal by summer. This would also see Besson stay on as creative head of EuropaCorp which has yielded popular properties such as The Transporter, Taken and Scarlett Johansson’s Lucy.
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Most notably, the deal would give Netflix access to all EuropaCorp’s films, including Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The graphic novel adaptation, while failing to make waves financially, has become somewhat of a cult favorite due to its stunning visuals, which may well lead Netflix to explore the possibility of a sequel for its fanbase.