Netflix Acquires Hip-Hop Serial Drama From ‘Gatsby’ Director Baz Luhrmann

According to The Hollywood Reporter, streaming giant, Netflix, is partnering with Moulin Rouge! director Baz Luhrmann to deliver a 13-episode hip-hop drama – The Get Down. 

This will mark the television debut of the famed filmmaker who is scheduled to oversee the first two episodes including the series finale. Luhrmann’s wife and longtime collaborator, Catherine Martin, will extend her duties as costume and production designer.

Apparently this ambitious and highly anticipated venture has been in development for quite some time and the first foray into negotiations happened back in December 2013 with major studios like Sony Pictures Television expressing interest which ended in an overall deal.

The Get Down will resurrect 70’s New York in all its shambled glory with graphic excerpts of a time when graffiti, street dancing, and corner brawls were standard offerings. Viewers will be privy to nostalgic glimpses of the iconic elements that gave the city character and grace, through the journey of a group of teenagers from the South Bronx who are left to their own vices as they navigate an era that was known for its tumultuous climate.

Luhrmann is a master at recreating the imaginings of stellar historical embodiments, so we can expect to be transported to the art world in SoHo as well as the lyrically grimy dungeons of CBGB. There will also be a mandated visual trek to Studio 54, a major staple in the 70’s.

The series will illustrate the rise of hip-hop, punk and disco in New York, during a time when the city was chaotically declining – but despite the overt hopelessness and desperation the teens from South Bronx were able to author a movement that extended beyond their primitive boundaries to initiate a religion that garnered followers all over the world.

Sounds like a winner and a project worth keeping tabs on – it is also an indication of the enticing power of the small screen as more prominent filmmakers are turning to this enhanced outlet to produce the type of stories that are dying for attention.

Luhrmann explained what finally pushed him to give in to Netflix and why television is the medium for his latest gem, “In this golden era of TV, the Netflix culture puts no constraints on creative possibilities. So it is a natural home for The Get Down, a project I have been contemplating and working on now for over 10 years. I’m thrilled to be working with my partners at Sony and collaborating with a team of extraordinary writers and musicians, many of whom grew up with and lived the story we’ve set out to tell”.

Interestingly enough, the world of hip-hop remains an institution that solicits a level of fascination that still remains at an all time high, guaranteeing a huge following from viewers who can’t seem to get enough of all the juicy layers that encompass the genre. This is perhaps due to the consistent dramatics brought on by the larger than life characters that dominate the storylines. The Butler’s Lee Daniels is enjoying success with his new hit Empire, that recently got renewed for a second season. And other cable networks are jumping on the bandwagon – Starz also got the same good news regarding their 50 Cent produced vehicle, Power, a drama about a prominent nightclub owner who also runs one of the most ruthless drug rings in the city.

This is a winning formula that doesn’t seem to be running out of steam which proves the endurance of the tales that decode the language of the streets.