Netflix to Adapt all3media’s The Circle

Studio Lambert’s Channel 4 show The Circle will be adapted locally by Netflix in three countries, including the U.S.

The concept is billed as a “popularity contest and social experiment inspired by the experience of using social media.” Studio Lambert and Motion Content Group co-produced it for Channel 4, which launched it last month. In the show, contestants live in separate apartments in a single building and only communicate through a special voice-activated social media platform. They rate each other constantly, with unpopular players “blocked” while the most popular player wins a cash prize.

“The Circle has already proven to be a compelling, timely and buzzworthy show,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s VP of unscripted content. “We think the show’s combination of modern social media interaction and competition will captivate Netflix members around the world, in multiple languages, and we’re delighted to partner with Studio Lambert and Motion to produce these three new local versions.”

“Social media has radically changed the way we make friends, conduct relationships, argue and even fall in love,” said Stephen Lambert, CEO of Studio Lambert, “but how truthful are our online identities? The Circle is a thought-provoking and entertaining way of exploring such questions and the chance to make different versions for Netflix’s global audience was irresistible.”

“We have had lots of positive interest in the format of The Circle internationally,” said Louise Pedersen, CEO of all3media international, “but we were excited both by Netflix’s commitment to the program and the chance to be part of a groundbreaking global deal for a big new reality format.”