If it’s a day that ends in “Y,” then it must mean that Netflix is adding another brand new series to their packed slate. But instead of spinning old material in a new way or adapting a comic book, they’ve ordered an original drama from the creative team of Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling, who have been working together in the indie scene for years.
The project is called The OA, and that’s roughly all we know about it, unfortunately. Netflix, which ordered an eight-episode initial season, chose not to offer any plot details concerning the one-hour drama, and are keeping the narrative under wraps for now. So OA can stand for anything from “overachievers” to “ornate acrobats” to something much more likely to be the truth.
What we do know is Marling and Batmanglij will be writing it together, with the latter directing the series. Marling will indeed star, making it her fourth team-up with Batmanglij, though this will be the first TV project for the pair. Considering what their past efforts’ were about, I’m assuming The OA will tell a dark story where everyone is hiding secrets.
Netflix is apparently super interested in The OA, as they went all in on a bidding war with other networks vying for the drama. I can’t imagine that money is a problem for them, so it’s no surprise they came out on top. And considering all of the other awesome series coming to the streaming service over the next couple of years, it’s likely The OA’s subject matter is a cut above normal network fare.
Marling and Batmanglij first teamed up on the sci-fi short film The Recordist in 2007 and then moved on to the sorta-sci-fi cult drama Sound of My Voice. They also worked on 2013’s thriller The East together, which broadened their subject matter a little more.
When they weren’t working together, Marling further built up her indie sci-fi queen cred with fellow indie filmmaker Mike Cahill for 2011’s Another Earth and last year’s I Origins. (Netflix doesn’t really have much science fiction going for it, beyond the Wachowskis’ multi-layered drama Sense8, so here’s hoping The OA is a little more indirect with its drama.) The actress can also be found on the awesome U.K. comedic miniseries Babylon, opposite James Nesbitt.
Batmanglij, meanwhile, is directing multiple episodes of the bonkers-looking M. Night Shyamalan-produced mystery thriller Wayward Pines, which obviously means he’s still keeping up with off-kilter fiction. And The OA will be produced by Plan B and Anonymous Content, which were behind 12 Years a Slave and True Detective, respectively.
Netflix will be delivering a ton of new series before The OA makes its mysterious way to audiences, but hopefully we get a plot description soon.
