Philip Barantini and Netflix Developing Highly Anticipated “Eat The Rich” Play for Television
Director Philip Barantini is collaborating with Netflix for a television adaptation of “Eat The Rich.” The play debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. Are Netflix fans ready for a feast of satire that skewers the wealthy?
“Eat The Rich:” The Next “Baby Reindeer?” Netflix Snags Hit Fringe Play
“Eat the Rich” is more than just a catchy, provocative title. It’s the fiercely funny and deeply personal story of Jade Franks, a working-class woman from Liverpool who finds herself navigating the alien world of Cambridge University. Imagine juggling secret cleaning shifts just to make ends meet, all while being thrown into a culture of immense, almost absurd, privilege. That’s the tightrope Franks walks in her performance, and it’s a story that has resonated powerfully with audiences.
The play is a sharp, witty exploration of class, ambition, and the sheer weirdness of trying to belong in a world that wasn’t built for you. This isn’t just a hopeful whisper; deals are being made. According to a Deadline exclusive, Netflix has won a bidding war and is now in early development to turn “Eat the Rich” into a TV series.
According to Deadline, a Netflix spokeswoman said that Netflix “is picking up the rights to ‘Eat the Rich’ in connection to our development deal with It’s All Made Up Productions.” That production company belongs to none other than Philip Barantini, the acclaimed director behind the heart-stopping film “Boiling Point” and the upcoming Netflix feature “Adolescence.”
Having Barantini’s production muscle behind the project is a massive vote of confidence. His knack for capturing raw, intense human drama is a perfect match for Frank’s powerful storytelling. Just like Richard Gadd adapted his own play for “Baby Reindeer,” Franks is expected to adapt “Eat the Rich” herself, ensuring the show retains the authenticity and unique voice that made it a hit.
Is “Eat The Rich” Poised to Be the Next Fringe-to-Screen Blockbuster?
The path from a solo Fringe show to a global Netflix hit is no longer uncharted territory. “Baby Reindeer” proved that a personal, challenging story can dominate the cultural conversation. Fleabag became a phenomenon. “Eat the Rich” has all the ingredients to follow in their footsteps. It’s a story with a beating heart, a sharp sense of humor, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for.
The play’s official bio for the Fringe festival describes it perfectly: ‘Eat The Rich’ is a comedy which demonstrates the myth of meritocracy, the sacrifices we make to get ahead, and who, in the end, these decisions will always disproportionately affect.” In a world grappling with inequality and the dizzying performance of social class, a story like this feels more necessary than ever.
While it’s still in early development, the combination of Jade Franks’ incredible talent, Philip Barantini’s cinematic vision, and Netflix’s global reach makes Eat the Rich one of the most exciting projects on the horizon. Get ready, because the next big thing is coming, and it started on a small stage in Edinburgh.
Currently, the show is in “early stage development.” This means we are likely a way off from seeing a trailer or getting a release date. Adapting a one-person play into a full series requires expanding the world, adding characters, and opening up the narrative beyond the single perspective of the stage.
In describing her play on Get Your Coats On, Franks said, ‘Eat the Rich’ (but maybe not me mates x) is a funny, fast-paced, and politically sharp one-woman show about class, code-switching, and cleaning jobs at Cambridge. Written and performed by me, it follows a working-class Scouse student trying to survive the UK’s most elite university while secretly working as a cleaner for her posh peers. It asks urgent questions about identity, shame, belonging, and who gets to feel at home in these institutions.”
Final Thoughts
As streaming services continue to mine the theater world for the next big hit, “Eat The Rich” stands out as a prime candidate for success. It combines the current appetite for class satire, think “Saltburn” or “The White Lotus”, with the grounded, authentic British storytelling that Netflix has found so much success with recently. We will be watching this one closely.
