The Eternaut has landed in Netflix’s viewing charts and also delivered a $34M financial boost to the country’s economy, figures from the streamer reveal.
The apocalyptic sci-fi series was produced in Argentina and largely in and around Buenos Aires where it is set – with international collaboration coming into play for the VFX and post-production elements.
Production of the drama – the biggest ever series out of Argentina – contributed over 41B ($34M at current exchange rates) to the country’s economy, Netflix said. It does not break out production budgets, but said its measure takes in the wider impact on GDP. That measure factors in direct spending on the show as well as the ripple effect, which could be travel, tourism, or the boost to local stores and employment.
Telling the story of what happens after a deadly snow descends, The Eternaut has quickly topped Netflix’s global top ten for non-English-language series. It also broke into the overall top ten in countries including the U.S., Brazil, France, Germany and Spain.
Netflix is keen to talk up its local production credentials and how it is boosting the film and TV sector in various countries. LatAm programming boss Franciso ‘Paco’ Ramos has told Deadline that the aim of its local spending is to generate hits but also to buoy the industry in the territories where it is commissioning.
With One Hundred Years of Solitude out of Colombia, Senna out of Brazil and now The Eternaut out of Argentina, it has greenlit three of the biggest shows ever made in LatAm. One Hundred Years of Solitude spurred the Colombian economy to the tune of $52M, per Netflix’s figures and as reported in our scoop from last December.
Breaking out the contribution its films and series make to the GDP of the country where they are made is also good positioning for Netflix. It counters talk of levies on international streamers that are designed to boost homegrown production, and which are being introduced and debated in many countries.
The Eternaut is an adaptation of the classic graphic novel by Héctor G. Oesterheld, illustrated by Francisco Solano López and first published in 1957. The series was created and directed by Bruno Stagnaro and produced by Buenos Aires-based K&S Films.
The good news for fans of the shows — and for Argentina – is Season 2 is confirmed. Netflix’s Ramos and K&S Producer Matías Mosteirin teased some details in a Deadline interview last week.
