Netflix has signed a multi-year content deal with comedian Druski, bringing his viral megachurch pastor character to the streamer in the semi-scripted series 'Collect & Praise' premiering December 1. The announcement marks a significant partnership between the streaming giant and one of comedy's fastest-growing digital creators.
Druski, born Drew Desbordes, built his platform by self-financing comedy content on social media, where his megachurch pastor character gained widespread popularity through internet sketches and a BET Awards performance. Under the agreement, Netflix will not only produce original content through Druski's company 4LIFERS Entertainment but also license select material from his existing YouTube catalog, including 'Coulda Been Love,' 'Coulda Been Daddy' and 'Coulda Been Records Auditions,' which have collectively generated over one billion views.
The first project under the deal, 'Collect & Praise,' is a semi-scripted comedy series starring Druski as a money-hungry megachurch pastor and Mike Epps as his deacon, who "scheme their way through scandal, chaos and controversy." The series represents Druski's first major adaptation of an internet persona into longform television production.
Earlier in 2024, Druski made headlines by becoming the youngest-ever host of the BET Awards. He is scheduled to guest host 'Saturday Night Live' on November 7, becoming the first true digital creator to host the long-running sketch comedy show. Other credits include Prime Video's 'Livestream From Hell,' 'Praise This' and the 'House Party' reboot.
The deal underscores how traditional media companies are increasingly partnering with digital-native creators. While Druski previously faced rejection from Netflix on multiple projects, the streamer ultimately chose to partner with him, with Netflix's John Derderian noting Druski's gift for building characters that resonate with audiences. The partnership will allow Druski to expand his reach to a global audience through the Netflix platform.
