Netflix buys US rights to Ukrainian president Zelensky’s political satire series Servant of the People

Netflix has bought back the rights to show Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s satirical comedy Servant of the People, following its release in the UK on Channel 4. 

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to worsen, the now war-torn nation has seen an estimated three million citizens flee. 

Ukrainian president Zelensky has given a more hopeful update as he entered into talks with Vladimir Putin, sharing yesterday he’s hoping for a peace agreement for ‘no later than in May.’

However, before being elected Ukraine’s president in a landslide victory in 2019, Zelensky was an actor and comedian, providing the voice of Paddington Bear in the country’s dubbed version. 

He also won Dancing With The Stars and owns production company Kvartal 95.

It’s his Servant of the People series that has piqued a particular interest from fans, due to its mirror of his real life unexpected success in politics. 

Now, the rights to the show in the US have been snapped up by Netflix, after striking a deal with production company Eccho Rights. 

Nicola Soderland, a managing partner of the firm, told the Hollywood Reporter: ‘The series is a comedy but also an important document of where Zelensky comes from. His fictional president is a normal man, who grows into his role as a heroic and adored leader. 

‘While the real-world scenario facing Zelensky and the Ukrainian people is far more grim and appalling than the comedy of the series, there are obvious parallels with the real-world situation.’

She added: ‘Servant of the People is a fascinating, important and historic piece of television.’

Back in 2018, a political party named after the TV series was registered with the Ministry of Justice in Ukraine.

This eventually led to Zelensky becoming elected the following year, with his ground roots political party after he won over 70% of the vote in the second round. 

Netflix confirmed the news in a tweet, where they wrote: ‘Servant of the People is once again available on Netflix in The US. 

‘The 2015 satirical comedy series stars Volodymyr Zelensky playing a teacher who unexpectedly becomes President after a video of him complaining about corruption suddenly goes viral.’

It comes just days after the series landed on Channel 4, with the broadcaster having been given the UK rights to the episodes. 

The first three episodes aired on the channel earlier this month, with all 24 instalments available to watch online on All 4.

Servant of the People can be streamed now on All 4 in the UK and Netflix in the US. 

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