Why Netflix Is Building ANZ Into a Global Production Hub
Netflix appoints Amanda Duthie as ANZ Content Director, positioning Australia and New Zealand as a global production hub. New 2026 slate balances local storytelling with major international product...
Netflix has appointed Amanda Duthie as Content Director for Australia and New Zealand, filling a leadership gap that lasted nine months following Que Minh Luu's departure in April 2025. Duthie joins from Stan, where she served as Head of Originals since 2021 and commissioned 14 new local productions.
The appointment comes as Netflix unveiled its 2026 content slate for the region, emphasizing a dual strategy of commissioning culturally specific local content while positioning ANZ as a key international production hub. Katherine Slattery was also appointed as Content Manager for ANZ, transitioning from Matchbox Pictures where she spent over four years as Scripted Development Manager.
Local Content Strategy Takes Shape
Duthie will oversee local commissioning operations from Netflix's permanent Sydney office, which contrasts with previous remote operations. The 2026 local slate includes the third and final season of Heartbreak High (premiering March 25), a series adaptation of Miles Franklin's My Brilliant Career filmed in South Australia, and Breakers, Netflix's first series shot on Western Australia's coastline starring Antony Starr.
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"Throughout my career, I've seen that local stories resonate most powerfully when they're deeply specific, true to a character, a community or a moment in time," Duthie said in announcing the slate.
Ludo Studio, creators of the hit animated series Bluey, is producing Allen, a feature film marking their first live-action project for Netflix. The appointment follows successful local commissions including Territory, which achieved 6.4 million views as Netflix's most expensive ANZ commission, and Boy Swallows Universe, which built industry trust in Netflix's local approach.
Global Production Hub Positioning
Beyond local storytelling, Netflix is filming major international projects in the region. War Machine, directed by Victorian filmmaker Patrick Hughes, the thriller Apex starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, and The Mosquito Bowl, a World War II drama shot on the Gold Coast, demonstrate the platform's use of Australian production infrastructure.
New Zealand productions include East of Eden and the animated series Stranger Things: Tales From '85, expanding the franchise through ANZ animation capabilities.
"Our region plays a unique dual role as both the home of powerful local stories and a production base for ambitious global projects, and those two realities strengthen each other," Duthie stated.
Industry Investment and Competitive Context
Since 2021, Netflix has invested over A$10 million across Australia and New Zealand through paid placements, training programs, and development initiatives targeting emerging and underrepresented practitioners. The investment addresses talent retention concerns amid overseas exodus and supports workforce development for both local and international productions.
"The skills developed on productions like these directly benefit the local industry," Duthie noted.
The appointment reflects intensifying streaming competition in the Australian market. Competitors including Stan and Prime Video are similarly prioritizing authentic Australian stories, creating pressure for platforms to demonstrate local commitment despite global content budget contractions.
Minyoung Kim, Netflix Vice President of Content for APAC (excluding India), directly oversees Duthie's ANZ operations. "Amanda's exceptional track record as a creative and her highly respected leadership within the local screen industry impressed me deeply," Kim said of the appointment.
Duthie's track record at Stan, where she commissioned 14 new local productions, establishes a competitive benchmark for Netflix's expanded ANZ strategy under her leadership.
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