The new Young Adult drama Penelope is shaping up to be Netflix's next sleeper hit, yet some fans are already fretting over its longevity on the platform notorious for axing beloved series after just a few seasons. Netflix has gained notoriety for cutting popular shows short, often leaving viewers hanging with unresolved plots and cliffhangers. But Penelope, which charts the journey of a 16-year-old girl who abandons her family to live in the forest, may escape this fate.
Megan Stott shines as the lead in Penelope, and the show's straightforward concept coupled with its modest budget might just render it "cancel proof". According to TechRadar, the indie approach taken by co-creators Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn could be Penelope's lifeline in the ruthless world of streaming. With the eight-part series being relatively inexpensive to make, Netflix might renew it despite modest viewership, or it could find a home on another platform.
TechRadar's piece highlighted: "The show is trying something that's common in indie film-making but still relatively rare in streaming TV. "Instead of securing a hefty commission from a major streamer like Netflix to fund production, the creators produced the entire series independently and then struck a short-term deal for Netflix to distribute it." The series, which garnered glowing reviews at the Sundance Film Festival, has its creators hopeful for a strong viewership to cement its longevity.
"We brought it [to streamers] and everybody was like, th.