Netflix and British docs producer Rogan Productions are to attempt to “connect the long and disturbing chain of events” that led to the disastrous Grenfell Tower fire in London.
The pair are teaming on a Grenfell [working title] doc feature that will air later this year and was revealed last night at the Next on Netflix event in London.
The feature will give a voice to survivors, bereaved families and firefighters, while “tracing the chain of events that led to the disaster,” according to Netflix. In 2017, the Grenfell Tower fire claimed the lives of 72 people and has led to a huge deal of introspection for the past eight years including a major national inquiry.
Netflix UK boss Anne Mensah said last night: “From pure entertainment to the most important stories – this year you will see a number of big British documentary series and films on Netflix UK. These are the important stories that demand to be told. For instance, Grenfell. For the first time, we pull together the disturbing chain of events that led to that tragedy. This is the story behind the headlines and is guaranteed to make you angry.”
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A number of Grenfell docs have aired down the years including a Ben Anthony feature for the BBC, a Steve McQueen art movie and a series for Channel 4 that dramatized the words spoken at the inquiry, all of which were titled Grenfell. Peter Kosminsky is currently working on a drama based on the disaster – also called Grenfell. Netflix’s Grenfell EPs are James Rogan, Sandy Smith and Soleta Rogan. Director is Olaide Sadiq. Producers are Ahmed Peerbux and James Saville. Netflix recently worked with Rogan on The Final: Attack on Wembley about the rioting that took place outside Wembley Stadium at the Euro 2020 final.
Mensah and host Edith Bowman were joined by top British talent yesterday at the Next on Netflix event including Stephen Graham and Philip Barantini promoting their new one-shot thriller series Adolescence, Gareth Evans and Jessie Mei Li on Tom Hardy-starring movie Havoc and The Sidemen, whose latest reality series Inside will debut on Netflix soon.
Mensah also previewed upcoming projects including The Thursday Murder Club, Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery and Cillian Murphy-starrer Steve.
The UK has been a major hit factory for Netflix over the past 18 months or so, with five of the streamer’s top 10 most-watched shows during the first half of last year coming from Mensah’s team.