Netflix is expanding its Bird Box cinematic universe

Bird Box
(Image credit: Netflix)

Remember Bird Box, that Netflix movie which saw a blind-folded Sandra Bullock struggling to stay alive in a dystopian world where opening your eyes can lead to death? Well, the streaming service is banking on you remembering.

Alex and David Pastor, the brothers behind the science-fiction thrillers Carriers and Self/less, have been hired to make a Spanish-language spin-off movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has fast-tracked production, with filming anticipated to start in Spain by the end of the year. 

The report notes that the spin-off is an example of the streamer "mining its intellectual property to build out a sort of cinematic universe from the local level on up." Netflix has already begun experimenting with creating new cinematic universes with Army of the Dead, Zack Snyder's upcoming movie, getting a prequel set in Germany – a country, like Spain, that's key for Netflix.

Bird Box, based on Josh Malerman's novel of the same name, was a hit back in 2018, with 26 million people watching the movie within its first week. Malerman previously revealed a sequel is in development at Netflix. 

The Pastor brothers herald from Barcelona, and the combination of Spanish language and sci-fi thriller appears to be a perfect match. The duo recently created Head, a 2020 series set at the South Pole, that aired in the US on HBO Max. There's currently no word on what story the Bird Box spin-off will tell, but the movie will be set in Spain.

While we await the Bird Box spin-off, be sure to check out all the best Netflix thrillers currently available to stream.

Jack Shepherd
Freelance Journalist

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.

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