Netflix Greenlights Wet Hot American Summer Reboot, Boards Danish Dramedy

COPENHAGEN/LOS GATOS: Netflix has ordered a limited series based on the cult classic movie Wet Hot American Summer, and is also on board the third season of Rita, a popular Danish comedy-drama from TV 2.

Shooting is already under way on the Wet Hot American Summer series. David Wain and Michael Showalter, who wrote the original film, created the TV series follow-up, and Wain will once again direct. Nearly the entire original cast is set to return. The lineup reportedly includes Showalter, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, H. Michael Ian Black, Judah Friedlander, Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Christopher Meloni, Marisa Ryan, Molly Shannon and Kevin Sussman.

Rita, about a politically incorrect school teacher, premiered on Denmark's TV 2 in 2012. The series has gained an international following on Netflix. Season three of the dramedy will be funded through a partnership between TV 2 and Netflix and will be produced by SF Film Production.

“We’ve wanted a new season of Rita for a long time because Rita is a strong and modern piece of TV drama, which focuses on our public school system and how we organize it,” said TV 2’s program director, Anne Engdal Stig Christensen. “The financial partnership with Netflix has been crucial for the production of the third season of Rita.”

“A key part of our mission is to curate the best TV series from around the world and make them available to our viewers globally,” said Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer at Netflix. “Denmark is world famous for great TV dramas and Rita is beloved by many Netflix members. We are excited to partner with TV 2 and SF Film Production so a third season of Rita is produced.”

“Netflix loves these wonderfully off-beat Danish TV series as much as we do,” said Thomas Gammeltoft, the director of the Copenhagen Film Fund. “Without the involvement of Netflix, season three of Rita likely would not have happened. We’re thrilled; this third season means additional growth and jobs for our area and the export of yet another TV series.”

“Season three is made possible through a new cooperation between TV 2, Netflix and The Public Service Fund and other partners where Netflix invests in original Danish drama. This is an interesting cooperation which can become of importance in future financing of Danish drama,” added Claus Ladegaard, the head of department, production and development at the Danish Film Institute.