Netflix seems determined to produce as wide of a variety of originals as possible, and there’s no denying that the streaming service has found success with everything from thrilling dramas to riotous comedies to cashing in on the superhero market. The latest genre that Netflix will back tackling is the musical with Baz Luhrmann’s The Get Down, and the first trailer makes it look like the show will be a flashy and fabulous ride through the musical scene of the Bronx in the 1970s. Check it out!
The Get Down takes place in a time when the city of New York’s financial downfall paved the way for musical revolutions in punk, hip hop, and disco. It will follow the lives and songs of a ragtag group of South Bronx teens to tell the tale of the transformation of the Big Apple in the 1970s.
The new series promises to be a sensory overload in the very best way, and it certainly looks to be one of a kind. Musicals have been growing more and more popular in the mainstream media in recent years, but The Get Down is no Sound of Music or Grease. Baz Luhrmann’s original musical will be a journey into a world of sex, drugs, violence, and yes, disco. If nothing else, Luhrmann deserves credit for making disco look cool again.
Of course, it should come as no surprise that Baz Luhrmann has the touch to turn The Get Down into something fabulous. He’s a master at handling period projects, and his 2001 musical Moulin Rouge remains a toe-tapping tearjerker even fifteen years later.
A magic touch behind the scenes can only be so effective, however. Fortunately, the cast of mostly unknown young folks appears incredibly talented. The performers playing the teens all seem to be triple threats with the abilities to sing, dance, and act and who will be perfect for bringing the premise to life. There are some familiar faces, as well. Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad and Revolution fame is prominently featured in the trailer as a character that seems like an anti-singing and considerably more awesome version of John Lithgow from Footloose.
For his part, Sons of Anarchy star Jimmy Smits' character Papa Fuerte looks more open to the music. In addition, Jaden Smith will be the famous face in the younger generation on The Get Down.
The Get Down will run for thirteen episodes of one hour each, to premiere on Netflix in 2016. Although the exact date has yet to be released, check out our list of other premiere dates for Netflix in 2016.
