Netflix’s Most Important Sci-Fi Series Is Returning
Black Mirror is returning for a seventh season. According to Variety, the show will begin production later in the year, while casting is yet to be confirmed. Creator by Charlie Brooker will resume his duties as executive producer alongside Annabel Jones and Jessica Rhoades. Details about the plot and episode count remain a closely guarded secret.
Black Mirror Returning
Black Mirror is a British anthology series that explores modern society’s dark and often dystopian sides, with each episode presenting a standalone story.
The series delves into the potential consequences and ethical dilemmas associated with technological advancements, examining how they can impact human behavior and society.
The title refers to the reflective screens of our devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions. While the episodes are not connected in terms of story, they often share a common theme.
Fashioned After The Twilight Zone
Brooker created Black Mirror as a contemporary version of anthology series like The Twilight Zone. The show debuted on Channel 4 in the UK in December 2011 with three episodes.
Over the years, Black Mirror received critical acclaim for its storytelling and originality. Viewers praised the show for its dark and thought-provoking narratives, as well as its ability to tap into contemporary fears and concerns about the consequences of technological progress.
Move To Netflix
After two seasons on Channel 4, the series was acquired by Netflix.
The streaming giant released the third season of Black Mirror in 2016, consisting of six episodes. The move to Netflix allowed the show to reach a global audience, further expanding its fan base.
Season 5, consisting of three episodes, was also produced by Netflix. After a four-year hiatus, the acclaimed anthology series returned with its sixth season, comprising five episodes.
Black Mirror’s Huge Cast
Black Mirror Season 6 boasted a star-studded cast that included Salma Hayek, Annie Murphy, Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Paapa Essiedu, and others. The season was a departure from the three-episode format of its predecessor, which featured Andrew Scott, Anthony Mackie, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Topher Grace, and Miley Cyrus.
Per Netflix, Black Mirror reached the Top 10 in 92 countries and spent four weeks in the streamer’s global top 10 English-speaking TV. The intricate rights structure of the series contributed to the long hiatus between Seasons 5 and 6.
In January 2020, creators Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones transitioned from House of Tomorrow to Netflix, establishing a new production company called Broke and Bones.
Predicting The Future?
Despite this shift, the rights to Black Mirror remained with Endemol Shine, the former parent company of House of Tomorrow, even after Endemol Shine was acquired by Banijay Group in 2020. Banijay Rights, a division of Banijay Group, continues to license the show to Netflix.
Interestingly, Black Mirror has frequently been acknowledged for its uncanny ability to predict the future in pessimistic scenarios.
In the latest season, released in June, the opening episode revolved around a streaming service named Streamberry, which used AI to turn people’s lives into content for its platform in real-time.
Going Forward
At the time, Charlie Brooker told Variety that the episode had been written before ChatGPT gained global attention amid the Holly strikes.
“I worry for a living, and I’m very worried about AI and the use of ChatGPT and things like that,” he explained.
When asked if the episode was another example of Black Mirror predicting the future, he said, “Unfortunately, in this case.”
