Netflix has secured exclusive global rights to adapt the hit board game “Catan,” with projects now in development across film and TV. The slate will span live action and animation, and could include both scripted and unscripted formats, according to today’s announcements.
What’s in the deal
The agreement is with Asmodee, which stewards the “Catan” brand alongside the Teuber family’s Catan GmbH. Netflix describes a broad development runway that covers features and series. No release windows were announced, and there’s no casting or creative team news beyond the producers attached so far.
“Catan” first hit tables in 1995 and has grown into one of the most recognizable modern board games, with more than 45 million copies sold and translations in over 40 languages. That reach is a big reason Netflix sees franchise potential here, alongside the game’s clear conflict, trading, and resource scarcity themes that can translate into character-driven drama.
Who’s making it
Producing duties are being led by Asmodee’s Darren Kyman and Catan Studio’s Pete Fenlon, alongside Benjamin and Guido Teuber representing the Teuber family. Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment is also attached to produce. This keeps the core rights holders close to the adaptations while bringing in a veteran genre producer with a track record of building mainstream hits.
“Catan” isn’t just a beloved game. It’s a cultural gateway that helped spark the modern board-game boom in the U.S. and beyond. Turning that IP into film and TV lets Netflix tap into a multigenerational audience that already understands the basic stakes: limited resources, competing settlements, and tense negotiation. Done right, that’s fertile ground for both prestige storytelling and broader four-quadrant appeal.
It also fits Netflix’s larger push around game-to-screen content. Recent and upcoming projects touch video games, comics, and board games alike, giving the service a portfolio that can cross-promote in the app, on social, and through licensed consumer products. “Catan” adds a marquee tabletop brand to that mix.
The open questions
Key details are still under wraps. We don’t have writers, directors, or stars yet, and Netflix hasn’t said which project will go first. The tone is another variable. “Catan” can skew family-friendly, high-adventure, or gritty frontier survival. Expect those choices to come into focus once creative leads are set.
A little history
Hollywood has circled “Catan” before. Producer Gail Katz optioned the rights a decade ago with a feature in mind, and Sony circled a film version afterward, but nothing made it to the finish line. Today’s deal appears to reset the board, with Netflix now holding the rights and a multi-format plan that mirrors how the company builds franchises.
If you know the rules, you already see the story engine. Expand, trade, and survive while your rivals do the same. That’s ready-made drama, and it gives Netflix flexible lanes across film, series, animation, and even unscripted. The big swing here is scale. “Catan” isn’t a one-off. It’s a world Netflix can mine for years if they land on the right creative take.
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