Young Adult drama Penelope has all the makings of another surprise hit for Netflix , but many potential fans may already be worried about its prospects on the streaming service. The platform has become infamous for cancelling popular shows after just a handful of seasons. Some dramas only have one shot at becoming a huge success before they’re unceremoniously axed, often leaving cliffhangers and unresolved storylines dangling.
However, new series Penelope, which follows a 16-year-old girl who decides to ditch her family and live in the woods, might not have the same issues. Megan Stott stars in the titular role and the series’ simple premise - and, more importantly, its low budget - could make it “cancel proof”. TechRadar suggests co-creators Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn’s decision to go the “indie route” could be what saves Penelope in this cutthroat streaming environment.
Because the eight-part series was so cheap to produce, Netflix could either commission a second season in spite of lower viewing figures, or it could be shown elsewhere. The outlet’s article explained: “The show is trying something that's common in indie film-making but still relatively rare in streaming TV. “Rather than get a big streamer such as Netflix to commission and pay for the show to be made, the show's creators made the whole series themselves and then signed a short-term deal for Netflix to distribute it.
” After the series scored rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival, th.