Netflix has closed a deal for the exclusive global rights to popular multi-player board game Catan. Under the wide-raging pact, the streamer will develop live-action and animated film and scripted TV series as well as unscripted projects and video games based on Catan by Klaus Teuber, originally released in 1995 as The Settlers of Catan, which has sold over 45 million copies and has been translated into over 40 languages.
This marks the first attempt at bringing to the screen the fictional island of Catan — a place where settlers must navigate bountiful and varied landscapes, shifting alliances, and limited resources, while robbers roam the land. The game blends strategy, resource negotiation, and world-building.
“Anyone who has played Catan knows that the intense strategy at the core of the game has endless opportunities for some serious drama,” said Jinny Howe, Head of Scripted Series, US and Canada, Netflix. “We’re thrilled to partner across series, features, animation, and games to bring this world to life for hardcore ‘Settlers’ and new fans alike.”
Darren Kyman from the game’s publisher asmodee, Pete Fenlon from Catan Studio (an asmodee studio), and Teuber’s sons Guido Teuber and Benjamin Teuber will produce all projects under the deal alongside Roy Lee from Vertigo Entertainment.
“Millions of people are enjoying Catan since it was created and for many, it remains a gateway to modern board gaming,” said Thomas Koegler, CEO of asmodee. “I’m thrilled to see the game expanding to a larger audience who will discover the richness of its universe, I find it exciting for the future of the brand.”
The deal extends Asmodee’s existing relationship with Netflix, which spans the streamer’s 2024 French film Family Pack, based on Asmodee’s card game The Werewolves of Millers Hollow, as well as Asmodee creating board games based on popular Netflix shows such as Ozark, Squid Game, Stranger Things and Bridgerton.
“When our father Klaus Teuber first introduced Catan thirty years ago, he imagined an aspirational world where people would gather by trading, building and settling together — both at the table and beyond it,” said Benjamin and Guido Teuber, co-CEOs of Catan GmbH. “This collaboration with Netflix marks an exciting new chapter in that journey.”
In addition to Family Pack, other game-to-screen Netflix adaptations include Arcane, Castlevania, Exploding Kittens as well as the upcoming Assassin’s Creed series, Clue and Monopoly reality competition series, Magic: The Gathering animated series, the Dungeons and Dragons live-action series Forgotten Realms and the Gears of War film.
The deal was negotiated by CAA and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson and Christopher on behalf of Asmodee and Catan GmbH.
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