Netflix’s latest Brazil slate includes a series set in the world of MMA; another about the iconic Brazilian football team of the 1970s; a movie spin-off of the Sintonia series; and documentaries about soccer stars Neymar and Ronaldinho. The streamer has also greenlit its first local horror movie and first wildlife doc.
New films include an untitled drama about the Elize Matsunaga case, in which Matsunaga killed and dismembered her husband—a case that was previously the subject of Netflix’s 2021 docuseries Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime. Netflix has also greenlit Fazenda Colonial, a Brazilian horror movie that follows a group of friends on an ill-fated trip to an old farm.
Teen crime drama Sintonia ran to five seasons and Netflix said its film spin-off will continue the story. The series has been the biggest franchise on Netflix’s Brazilian service.
The MMA series – Fúria – follows the journey of a young fighter rescued from the brink of death by a martial arts trainer. He is given a second chance to fight for a place in the MMA world and uncover his true identity.
The soccer series has the working title of Brazil 70 and will follow the iconic team that lifted the World Cup. No more details yet, but given that the team contained soccer god and Brazilian national hero Pelé, there’s big casting news afoot.
More soccer-related programs on the slate include a documentary about Brazilian star Ronaldinho and another about Neymar’s return to his boyhood club, Santos.
There’s also a reality show in the mix. Meu Namorado Coreano (My Korean Lover) follows five Brazilian women who have been in long-term relationships as they arrive in Seoul, South Korea.
The bumper round of Netflix announcements come ahead of the Rio2C event, which is industry event and film and TV festival rolled into one.
Check out details of the 10 new projects – all of which are now in production – below.
SERIES
Emergência Radioativa: Fictional miniseries inspired by the real-life 1987 Goiânia disaster. Production: Created by Gustavo Lipsztein, directed by Fernando Coimbra, produced by Gullane.
Fúria: Following the journey of a young MMA fighter in search of his identity. Production: Created by José Henrique Fonseca, produced by Zola Filmes.
Brazil 70 (WT): Miniseries about Brazilian football players in 1970. Production: Created by Naná Xavier and Rafael Dornellas, directed by Pedro and Paulo Morelli, produced by O2 Filmes.
FILMS
Untitled Elize Matsunaga Film: Thriller inspired by a famous true-crime case. Production: Directed by Vellas and written by Raphael Montes, produced by Boutique Filmes
Untitled Sintonia Spin-off: Film that continues Nando’s (Christian Malheiros) journey. Production: Directed by Johnny Araújo and produced by Gullane.
Fazenda Colonial: Horror following a group of friends’ celebratory trip to an old farm, which ends in a sinister reunion with the past. Production: Co-production between Kromaki and Panda Filmes, directed by Marcela Mariz and Renata di Carmo.
DOCUMENTARY
Untitled Ronaldinho documentary: Telling the story of the iconic Brazilian soccer star. Production: Co-production between Canal Azul and Trailer Filmes.
Untitled Santos/Neymar Jr. documentary: documentary about Santos, its behind-the-scenes moments, and Neymar Jr.’s return. Production: Produced by Improbable Media and Ginga Pictures.
Marcha das Onças (March Of The Jaguars): Film following the journey of three jaguars in the Pantanal region. Production: Directed by Lawrence Wahba and co-produced by Duo2 and Bonne Pioche.
REALITY
Meu Namorado Coreano: Follows five Brazilian women as they arrive in bustling Seoul. Production: Produced by Floresta.