Netflix Brazil has announced five new titles for Brazil’s giant creativity forum Rio2C. This shows that the company is still exploring new genres and launching new industry partnerships.
At stake for Netflix is SVOD’s continued dominance of one of the world’s largest subscriber markets. This week’s lineup and panels at Rio 2C show that the film aims to be ultimate, appealing to Brazilian audiences’ passion for soap opera, fandom, and soccer, while also taking into account the extraordinary diversity of Brazil and its audience.
These new titles come as Netflix’s Brazilian shows and movies begin to appear more frequently in the U.S. global top 10 charts, the latest release from Narcos director Fernando Coimbra and Gullane, Radioactive Emergency, and the announcement of Netflix’s most-watched non-English series from March 23 to March 29.
“We create for Brazilians first, and that applies to all countries where we create original content,” Tarr said. “We create for Brazilians first, and that applies to all countries where we create original content. The stories explore diverse aspects of Brazilian culture, including regional perspectives, social phenomena, and the complexities of the country,” Francisco Ramos, Netflix vice president of content Latin America, told Variety ahead of Netflix’s Rio 2C. We have the busiest agenda of any participating company.
Netflix, which released its first legal drama “Habeas Corpus” last December, will release its first Brazilian medical series “Med” starring Clara Moneke, who broke out in the 2023 TV novel “Never Give Up.”
“Brazil is an important market with a diverse audience that constantly challenges us to be bold with our stories and continue to innovate in genre, format and narrative,” Ramos added.
“To create this content, we have built strong partnerships with the local creative community,” Ramos said. This is also reflected in the new titles. For example, “Med” is produced by Paranoid and co-headed by “Drained,” “Adrift,” and “Bald Mountain” director Hayter Dahlia, and Netflix launched Netflix’s global No. 1 hits “Criminal Code” and “Rulers of Fortune” in non-English programming from November 3rd to 9th. 2025.
A documentary about seafarer Tamara Klink’s Arctic voyage will be Netflix’s first production with high-flying Maria Fariña Films. For the open marriage comedy, Netflix has partnered with Manas Films to launch in 2024.
Netflix on Monday also announced its third soap opera, a special brand of telenovela-series hybrid in partnership with Banijay Entertainment’s A Fábrica, the company behind the hugely popular title Desperate Lies, which is Netflix’s first Brazilian soap opera.
“Melodramas always captivate Brazilian audiences, regardless of pace or length. Combining the emotion of telenovelas with the agility of series-style plots creates a powerful blend that feels close to reality and true,” said Elisabetta Zenatti, vice president of Netflix content in Brazil. “Brazilians identify so strongly with these stories because they evoke a sense that what they see on screen could happen to them, their friends and family.”
One of the most eye-catching new titles is “Os crentes,” which is about a group of evangelical friends. “Because we serve a broad audience, we have many stories that touch on the (evangelism) theme from a variety of perspectives,” Zenatti said. “From moving features like Dave Leonard’s, to heartwarming films like Unexplained, to documentaries like Tropical Apocalypse, we offer options to a diverse audience that connects to this theme in some way.”
“Med” stars Clara Moneke, but also features an up-and-coming young cast. “Brazil has the most passionate fandom,” Ramos said. “There are several shows in 2026 that feature both BR icons and brand-new talent. For example, “Brazil 70,” premiering on May 29th, stars well-known actors Rodrigo Santoro and Bruno Mazzeo, as well as newcomer Lucas Agricola, who makes you think you’ve met Pelé again.”
Rio2C, Latin America’s largest creativity forum, will be held in Rio de Janeiro from May 27th to 31st. Let’s take a closer look at the five new titles.
“Med”
Set in a university hospital, “Med” “captures the intense daily lives of young doctors in training and explores the emotional, ethical and human challenges of the profession,” Zenatti said. The series is the first fiction series created and show-run by Helena Petta and Ana Petta after “Quando Falta o Ar”, which was nominated for the 2024 Cinema Brasil Grand Prix. Anna Petta also starred in Gullane’s “Basic Health Unit,” which aired for three seasons and was canceled in 2016. Lead screenwriters include Gustavo Braganza, principal screenwriter of Netflix’s hit Good Morning, Veronica, Aline Portugal, co-winner of Best Original Screenplay for Reservoir at Brazil’s Vitoria Film Festival, João Costa Van Hombeek and Theis. Berbe, writer of Cao Hamburger’s “As Five,” and Victor Hugo Valois, writer of “Basic Health Unit.”
“Male Cleantes”
This may be translated as “believers.” The title is described as “a comedy special about a group of evangelical friends who gather for a gathering full of surprises.” The film is produced by Sony Pictures TV’s Floresta, the company behind Rose d’Or Latin American winner “Shark Tank Brazil.” The Emmy-nominated “Luz” and the HBO Max novel “Doña Vella” are also produced by an all-Christian group of screenwriters. For Zenatti, “‘Os Cleantes’ is another angle to explore to strengthen this offering (of a show featuring evangelism). And the fact that it is written by a Christian author further connects this work with an audience that shares this belief.”
Untitled Tamara Klink Arctic Documentary
In 2025, Klink sailed solo across the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in 45 days, becoming the first Latin American and second woman to accomplish the feat. Details of the title have not yet been revealed, but it fits well with María Fariña Films, whose project showcases extraordinary female pioneers, including artist-activist Claudia Andujar and black gymnast Diane dos Santos. Klink is quick to link his accomplishments to climate change. The record of my Arctic voyage with her will inevitably be the same.
Tamara Clint at the North Pole
Jekorea
Third Netflix soap opera series in Brazil
The director is Rogério Gómez (“Papinho”), who is famous for the Globo telenovela and series director (“Love is a Knife”). Banijay Entertainment’s A Fábrica, who worked on Desperate Lies and will appear in 17 episodes, will once again produce. Last December, Netflix announced a second soap opera about the secrets and intrigues of Rio de Janeiro’s elite families. The film was produced in partnership with Amaia Produções and Conspiração, and was directed by Mauro Mendonça Filho.
Untitled open marriage comedy
A comedy about open marriages starring Fernanda Torres, produced by Alexandre Machado, co-creator of Filhos da Patria, and directed by José Alvarenga Jr. (Decejos SA). The comedy will be produced by Manas Film, a São Paulo-based production company founded in 2024 by longtime O2 film producers Belle Berlinck and Joanna Cooper.
What else is in the Netflix Brazil hopper?
The five new Netflix titles join 12 other titles scheduled for release between 2026 and 2027. The 12 songs already announced could include “Habeas Corpus,” which features the “Under Pressure” star and Any Gabrielly. A Estranha na Cama, a film adaptation of his novel by high-flying crime writer Rafael Montes (Scarred Beauty, Perfect Days), and Rauls, Netflix’s second project from YouTube urban rap channel phenomenon Conzilla and LB Entertainment.
Rafael Montes’ latest work “A Estranha na Cama”
Marcos Serra Lima/Netflix
Co-creators Heitor Dhalia and Paranoid will deliver both Season 2 of “Rulers of Fortune” (“Os Donos do Jogo”), inspired by the underworld created by the illegal lottery game “jogo do bicho”, and Season 3 of “Criminal Code” (“DNA do Crime”), a police action thriller.
Gabriel Martins (“Mars One”) is directing “In the Place of My Son” (“Vicentina Pede d’Esculpas”), produced by Film de Plastico. Vicente Amorin is directing an adaptation of Paulo Coelho’s Pilgrimage (O Diário de Um Mago), produced by Gullane and starring Rodrigo Santoro and Johnny Massaro.
Netflix on Rio2C
Netflix will stage or participate in six panels and events at Rio2C. Brief details:
Tuesday, May 26, 4:30pm (House of Brands): Focus on Netflix’s brand partnerships and the innovations it aims to bring to the brand’s uniqueness, with case studies from its partnerships with Ambev and Unilever. With Fernanda Guimarães.
Tuesday, May 26th 7pm Netflix Industry Party. Participating in the flag lowering for Rio2C, which will be held from May 26th to 31st.
Wednesday, May 27, 11:30 a.m. (Writers Room). Sports panel: “How Netflix is bringing the excitement of sports to non-sports fans, and the diversity of formats that cover sports stories (‘Ronaldinho,’ ‘Tetra,’ ‘Brazil 70’).”
Does Ramos see non-live sports programming as a growth area in Latin America? “Absolutely, especially when we have some of the most passionate fans in the world,” he answered. “At Netflix, you can experience the stories behind the sports, local, authentic storytelling that plays like the best dramas. Of course, this year, many of our productions are related to the world’s biggest sport: soccer. “Ronaldinho: The Unique”, “James”, “Emi Martinez: The Child Who Stops Time”, “Brazil 1970”, “Mexico 1986”, “America 1994: Return of Brazil”, “Valzea: The Roots of the Game”.
Thursday, May 28, 10am (Global Stage): Fireside chat with Francisco Ramos entitled From Latin America to the World: Creating a New Cartography of Audiovisual Media. He will discuss how Netflix is shaping the global perception of Latin American content, highlighting Netflix’s creator-first approach and commitment to developing the local industry.
Thursday, May 28th, 12:15pm (Story Village at Rio2C). As part of Vision 2030, a discussion between YouTube, Globoplay, and Conspiração executives and Netflix’s Elisabetta Zenatti will highlight Netflix’s creator-first approach to driving storytelling innovation and Netflix’s economic and cultural impact over the past 15 years and beyond.
Thursday, May 28, 2pm (preview room): Licensing and co-production: Netflix’s “aggressive” but “broad and flexible strategy emphasizes different types of partnerships across a wide range of films and series.
“Our multiple Rio2C stages demonstrate how hard our local team is working to deliver high-quality content through Netflix-branded productions while investing in programming from the local indie community. Joining the discussion about the future of the AV business and brand opportunities in the streaming ecosystem further demonstrates our long-term commitment to the market and its development,” Ramos concluded.
