Netflix to Launch Documentary Series on Russell Brand Following Conviction
The streamer will spotlight Brand after he was convicted of rape and sexual assault last week. He was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison.
A major documentary series about Russell Brand is in the works, according to exclusive reports. Netflix is set to produce the series, which could be announced as early as tomorrow.
The project, to be produced by 72 Films, comes on the heels of Brand's recent conviction and sentencing. The documentary's production was briefly referenced during his trial, where Mark Pinheiro, a former friend, testified about being approached by a producer about the Netflix show.
Netflix has a history of producing controversial documentaries about high-profile British sex offenders, including Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022).
The news of the Brand project surfaces as Netflix maintains its stand on the 2018 comedy show Russell Brand: Re:Birth, which was filmed live at the Hackney Empire. While the show remains available on Netflix, the streamer will no longer promote it actively following Brand's sentencing.
During Re:Birth, Brand openly discusses his sexual history, stating, "I’ve hardly been conservative with sperm. Giving the stuff away like sticky confetti... The real miracle is that one of them’s been allowed to germinate instead of being squandered in a stranger’s eyelashes."
A Netflix spokesperson commented, "We prioritize choice and control for our members: the freedom to watch what, how, and when you want, with recommendations and ratings to inform those choices."
The judge in Brand's trial described him as a "sexual predator" and noted that his fame protected him until 2023, when allegations were published. He praised the determination and bravery of the women who came forward with complaints.