Netflix UK’s Ollie Madden outlines film strategy: human-led commissioning, bigger budgets and three UK-Ireland films greenlit

# Overview

Ollie Madden, who joined Netflix as director of UK film in October 2025 after heading Film4, says the streamer's commissioning decisions are led by people rather than driven by cold data alone. After nearly a year in post, he has approved three films for the UK and Ireland slate and describes a commissioning culture that gives teams freedom and responsibility.

# Madden's approach and culture

Madden says data is used at Netflix but only as an input. Commissioning is based on instinct, emotion and discussion among people with creative responsibility. He values Netflix's low-process culture: fewer layers of red tape and more autonomy for filmmakers and internal teams.

# What he's greenlit so far

Bad Bridgets — Directed by Rich Peppiatt with Trevor Birney producing. Described as a punky period revenge story inspired by the non-fiction book Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem And The Lives Of Irish Emigrant Women. Stars Emilia Jones and Alison Oliver. Filming wrapped in Belfast after a seven-week shoot. Produced by LuckyChap and Coup d'Etat Films.

The Inbetweeners 3 — Written and directed by creators Damian Beesley and Iain Morris, with the original cast reunited (Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas). Produced by Banijay and Fudge Park Productions with Film4 support. Madden said the new film had a clear reason for being and that reunifying the original cast was creatively justified.

# Budgets and financing

Madden describes the budgets for these films as "significant." He confirmed none of the three films accessed the UK Independent Film Tax Credit, which indicates budgets likely above the £15m threshold for that relief. He says Netflix has the resources and flexibility to "right-size" budgets and provide what each film needs.

Before Madden, the UK film brief at Netflix was overseen by executives with wider international remits. Teresa Moneo previously led the UK film team and worked on international titles before leaving in early 2025. Fiona Lamptey was the first UK-based Netflix film executive with greenlight power when she joined in 2020. Madden is the first Netflix head working directly on a UK and Ireland-specific film remit.

# Practical implications for UK filmmakers

• Commissioning decisions will emphasize relationships and creative instincts alongside data inputs.
• Netflix is positioned to fund mid-to-high budget UK and Ireland films without relying on the Independent Film Tax Credit.
• Madden's slate so far combines auteur-driven projects and commercially familiar IP, which signals willingness to back a range of titles.

# Bottom line

Madden's first year signals a hands-on, relationship-driven commissioning model at Netflix UK with financial flexibility for higher-budget projects. The three greenlit films indicate the streamer will back both established talent and commercially recognisable properties within the UK and Ireland market.