Conquest: The Costly Nightmare that Haunted Netflix

TLDRIn 2018, Netflix made a costly mistake by investing heavily in a TV show called Conquest. The show's director, Call Eric, proved to be a nightmare to work with and caused significant delays and budget overruns. His erratic behavior and mismanagement led to major financial losses for Netflix. Despite having complete creative control, Eric's incompetence and questionable financial decisions ultimately derailed the project.

Key insights

🎥Netflix invested $61.2 million in the TV show Conquest, hoping for a hit.

💸Director Call Eric mismanaged the production and wasted millions of dollars.

🎭Eric's erratic behavior and difficult personality caused delays and tension on set.

🤔Despite numerous red flags, Netflix gave Eric complete creative control over the show.

🔚The project ended up being a financial disaster, costing Netflix over $55 million.

Q&A

Why did Netflix invest in Conquest despite concerns about the director?

Netflix was desperate for content to attract subscribers and saw potential in Conquest. They believed that Call Eric's previous failures were not indicative of his true potential.

What were the consequences of giving Eric complete creative control?

Eric's lack of oversight and mismanagement led to significant delays, budget overruns, and a subpar end product. Netflix suffered major financial losses as a result.

How did Eric's behavior impact the cast and crew?

Eric's erratic behavior and difficult personality caused tension on set and made it challenging for the cast and crew to work effectively. It created a toxic work environment.

Why didn't Netflix intervene earlier to address the issues?

Netflix was too invested in the project and had already spent a significant amount of money. They were reluctant to step in and potentially jeopardize their investment.

What lessons can be learned from the failure of Conquest?

The Conquest debacle highlights the importance of thorough vetting of directors and proper project management. It also showcases the risks of giving complete control to someone without a proven track record.

Timestamped Summary

00:00In 2018, Netflix invested $61.2 million in the TV show Conquest, hoping for a hit.

06:56Director Call Eric proved to be difficult to work with, causing delays and tension on set.

14:26Despite concerns about Eric's track record, Netflix gave him complete creative control over the show.

20:15Eric's mismanagement and erratic behavior led to major financial losses for Netflix.

27:40The project ended up being a financial disaster, costing Netflix over $55 million.