Questions of whether Will James May and Richard Hammond will reunite with their former colleague Jeremy Clarkson on Netflix are ready for an answer.
The Mirror is reporting that a reunion is 'very close' to happening. According to the newspaper, Hammond and May, presenters of the wildly popular motoring show Top Gear, together with executive producer Andy Wilman are set to turn down a £4million pound contract renewal from the BBC in order to join their former co-presenter Clarkson on a new Netflix backed show. Clarkson was sacked by the network earlier this year after getting into a fight with one of the show's producers.
Sources close to the talks claim that no amount of money would be enough for the two to continue presenting Top Gear without Clarkson. "Flattering though it is to be offered huge sums there'll be no going back. It wouldn't feel right and their heart wouldn't be in it" said the Mirror's source. The trio have been in talks with several networks such as BBC rival ITV, however the American streaming giant has the inside track on acquiring their services.
"They are all very excited at the prospect of having total editorial control over their new show, to make it and get it distributed." It would be ground breaking and also incredible lucrative. They would stand to earn much, much more than they would with the BBC."
Netflix is no stranger to the original content game. The streaming service already has a roster of successful shows under its belt like the Kevin Spacey fronted political thriller House of Cards, women's prison dramedy Orange is the New Black, and the recently aired Marvel superhero tie-in Daredevil. However landing the Top Gear trio would undoubtedly be the company's biggest acquisition yet.
Top Gear is estimated to reach at least 350 Million viewers each week while Hammond, May, and Clarkson rank among the BBC's most recognized (and highest paid) personalities. A move like this would surely make Netflix the dominant force in original content on the web.
