Deadline reports that streaming subscription platform Netflix will be bringing the series Alan’s Universe, from hit YouTube creator Alan Chikin Chow (Grey’s Anatomy, Into the Dark), to its content catalogue. Members around the world will be able to watch new episodes dropping to the day and date with its main schedule on YouTube, with an available library of prior episodes to watch.
Digital creator Chow is the creator of Alan’s Universe, which got its start as a YouTube series – currently, it is among one of the highest subscribed and viewed channels worldwide. Chow himself is also considered, via Deadline, the most-watched YouTube Shorts creator; with an average of between 1B to 1.5B+ views per month on his content.
In January of this year, Chow announced that he would be working with Netflix on a separate scripted series (currently untitled) in partnership with HYBE America, the Korean entertainment company’s U.S. branch. HYBE is responsible for several pillars of the country’s entertainment industry, including the award-winning K-Pop boy group BTS.
Chow is one of several digital creators who have migrated from YouTube to Netflix in the past year. Deadline highlighted that, since taking on the Google-owned service, Netflix has also worked with breakout YouTube creators Mark Rober (Revenge of the Nerd, Crunch Labs), Ms. Rachel (Potty Time With Bean, Get Ready For School!), and The Sidemen (The Gift, Christmas Drillings). mxdwn reported prior that Netflix is supposedly offering better deals and more money than YouTube, and that Netflix is making moves to adapt YouTube’s successful platform strategies to their dynamic.
Alan’s Universe, which Deadline describes as a cross between a classic Disney Channel sitcom and hit K-drama Boys Over Flowers, is a scripted anthology series about love, friendship, and becoming the best version of yourself. Revolving around Alan (Chow) and his friends, the ensemble cast face fantastical obstacles in an unfamiliar universe – high school is hard enough, but with the addition of pop star double lives, frustruatingly handsome vampires, and bullies, it’s about to get a whole lot busier. Luckily, with each other’s support, they persevere through life’s struggles together.
As listed by Deadline, the series is produced by Laith Souqi (Ocean, Same Day Marriage) and Moris Zingman (The Making of the Kingpin, I’ll See You There). Leonin Maslakov and Stepan Laptev are credited as creative directors (as part of the channel’s main team), and Jungyoon Kim serves as Chief Operating Officer. Alongside Chow’s portrayal of the show’s central character Alan, Chelsea Sik (Heartstorm, Secrets of the Shadows) acts as Chow’s co-star in the series.