Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd has been offered a near seven-figure deal by Netflix to stop rival services taking him, sources claim.
Netflix has reportedly offered the writer and actor, 35, almost £1million to exclusively work to create more smash hit programmes for them.
Autobiographical black comedy-thriller Baby Reindeer, based on Richard’s own experiences, was released on Netflix in April.
The miniseries followed an aspiring comedian and sexual assault victim who gets stalked by a woman he meets bartending at a pub.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘This is not a done deal, with both the streamer and Richard negotiating the details of a contract which would see him start work on a new show as soon as possible.
Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd, 35, has reportedly been offered a new deal by Netflix to stop rival services taking him (pictured in June)
He is responsible for smash hit autobiographical black comedy-thriller Baby Reindeer, based on Richard’s own experiences, was released on Netflix in April
The miniseries followed an aspiring comedian and sexual assault victim who gets stalked by a woman he meets bartending at a pub.
‘The fact that it could end up being worth seven figures reflects just how much Netflix want to keep him ‘in house’ following the incredible response to Baby Reindeer.
‘They are hoping they can come to an agreement that will see Richard produce a string of shows for them, which could prove just as successful and thought-provoking.’
It comes after reports that Richard’s next project will be a Scottish drama series under US network HBO and the BBC.
Richard will write and executive produce the six 45 minute episode drama series, which will span almost 40 years from the 1980s to the present day, covering the relationship between two men from their meeting as teenagers to their falling out as adults.
Lions will start production in Glasgow in early 2025 with Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck set to direct while Wendy Griffin will produce the series.
Tally Garner and Morven Reid will act as executive producers for Mam Tor Productions, Richard, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland.
The news is a welcome distraction from reports that Baby Reindeer real-life stalker Fiona Harvey is demanding £135 million from Netflix after claiming the streaming giant’s series was not based on a true story.
Baby Reindeer portrays Richard’s character Donny Dunn being stalked by Martha, who has been in prison for a historical crime and is sent to prison for stalking him.
A TV insider said: ‘This is not a done deal, with both the streamer and Richard negotiating the details of a contract which would see him start work on a new show as soon as possible’
They continued: ‘The fact that it could end up being worth seven figures reflects just how much Netflix want to keep him “in house” following the incredible response to Baby Reindeer’
It comes after reports that Richard’s next project will be a Scottish drama series under US network HBO and the BBC
Internet sleuths easily discovered the character was based on Fiona.
Netflix has pledged to ‘vigorously defend’ a lawsuit worth millions of dollars.
It comes after Fiona was left too afraid to go to the grocery stores as fans of the Netflix show continue harassing her, her lawyers have claimed.
The 49-year-old Scot, who claims she is the inspiration behind the Netflix stalking drama, is suing the streaming giant for at least $170million for defamation and negligence.
Speaking on News Nation’s CUOMO, Harvey’s attorney Richard Roth argued that Harvey is not a public figure, adding that she felt she needed to reveal herself as the real-life Martha because she was being harassed.
‘She’s been harassed, she’s been stalked, she’s getting death threats, she’s afraid to go out and buy groceries and she’s not a public figure,’ Roth said.
‘She’s destroyed, she’s shattered.’
Her attorneys are arguing that it was defamatory to Harvey to depict Martha character as a convicted felon.
‘When Netflix starts the series, it doesn’t say, “this is based on a true story,” doesn’t say, “this is inspired by a true story,”‘ Roth explained.
Meanwhile, Baby Reindeer real-life stalker Fiona Harvey is demanding £135 million from Netflix after claiming the streaming giant’s series was not based on a true story and has led to her being unfairly harassed
‘It says five words – “This is a true story” – so you better make sure it’s true.’
The attorney continued: ‘Spoiler alert, during the series, it comes up that she was convicted of stalking and spent four and a half years in jail. Never happened. She was never even arrested.
‘And then at the end of the series, she pleads guilty to four different counts of harassment and then gets four more felony convictions.
‘So, they portrayed this woman as a two-time convicted felon when she’s never even been arrested for anything.’
Roth went on to say that the series made it too easy to identify the woman who inspired Martha.
‘Make her from a different heritage. Give her a different accent,’ Roth suggested, before adding: ‘They did nothing.
‘Everything in here leads to Fiona Harvey, and it’s very easy to find out who it is.’
Netflix has said that it intends to ‘defend this matter vigorously’ and stand by Gadd’s ‘right to tell his story.’
MailOnline has contacted Netflix for comment.
