ITV has snapped up two huge Disney shows in a landmark streaming deal, it was revealed on Thursday.
The channel is taking on Netflix and iPlayer with star-studded crime thrillers by licensing Welcome to Chippendales and Culprits from Disney Entertainment.
Both series will stream on ITVX later this year so fans will be able to get stuck into the shows without paying for Disney+, reports TV Zone.
They report that the deal was negotiated by ITV Head of Content Acquisitions Sasha Breslau.
A sprawling true-crime saga, Welcome to Chippendales tells the outrageous story of Somen ‘Steve’ Banerjee.
ITV has snapped up two huge Disney shows in a landmark streaming deal, it was revealed on Thursday
The channel is taking on Netflix and iPlayer with star-studded crime thrillers by licensing Welcome to Chippendales (seen) and Culprits from Disney Entertainment
He was an Indian immigrant who became the unlikely founder of the world’s greatest male-stripping empire – and let nothing stand in his way in the process, writes Disney.
Kumail Nanjiani, 44, plays the lead role and said last year when describing his character: ‘So, the guy who created Chippendales… he was this Indian immigrant, I didn’t know the story, a lot of wild stuff happened behind the scenes.’
He added, ‘People got murdered over Chippendales. He was setting fires to other male strip clubs because he thought they were stealing his ideas, so you know, I had no idea so much wild stuff happens.’
Nanjianai had to stretch outside his comfort zone to play the role of a shady character who gets angry.
Coming from a comedic background, Kumail explained that he drew inspiration from his hero Robin Williams who also began his career as a stand-up comedian but later famously portrayed more serious, darker characters.
Kumail said: ‘H’s sort of a bad guy, you know, he’s a dark character, you know and when I look at the people that sort of inspired me to do comedy in the first place, someone I think of a lot is Robin Williams.
‘He’s great, and when I think of people who started off as stand-up and ended up doing dark, dramatic roles, it’s very hard to beat the level that he achieved in all those different areas.
‘And I was like, ‘If my heroes are doing this, I have to at least try to follow in their footsteps.’ I have been a fan of his my entire life.
A sprawling true-crime saga, Welcome to Chippendales tells the outrageous story of Somen ‘Steve’ Banerjee – an Indian immigrant who became the unlikely founder of the world’s greatest male-stripping empire
Both series will stream on ITVX later this year so fans will be able to get stuck into the shows without paying for Disney+, reports TV Zone
‘Actually, my wife and I used to do a comedy show in LA in the back of this comic book store, just a tiny little show. And one day I was hosting and I came backstage and Robin Williams was standing there.
‘And I was like, ‘Hi, I’m Kumail.’ And he’s like, ‘Hey I’m Robin.’
‘And I’m like, ‘Yeah! I know! We all know.’
‘And he was cool, you know, wearing a coat and hat, and I was like, ‘Do you wanna go up on stage?’ and he’s said, ‘Oh, No, I can’t.’
‘And I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ and before I finished, he’s like ‘I’ll just do 2 minutes.’ He went on stage and did 20 minutes, it was amazing, he did so well!’
Meanwhile Culprits is described as follows by Disney: ‘Joe Petrus is living the American dream: a fiancé to Jules, dad to Frankie and Bud, and starting his own business in a sleepy suburban town.
‘But unbeknownst to his family, Joe has a secret.
‘Three years ago, he was recruited by notorious British criminal Dianne Harewood to join her crew and take part in a high-stakes crime that promised to make Joe rich and provide him with a brand-new life.
‘And now Joe’s dangerous past is about to catch up with him.
‘When a killer starts targeting the crew behind the crime, Joe realizes that the only way to keep his family safe is to return to London, make contact with his old gang, and track down Dianne.’
It stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton, Eddie Izzard, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Niamh Algar.
Meanwhile Culprits stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton (seen), Eddie Izzard, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Niamh Algar
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