Netflix has now included the complete library of a highly praised drama series in its streaming lineup.
The political drama The West Wing earned an impressive 26 Emmy awards during its seven-season run.
The show originally aired on NBC from 1999 to 2006 and depicts the internal operations of the fictional administration of US President Jed Bartlet, a Democrat and Nobel Prize-winning economist.
Martin Sheen stars as Bartlet, with performances by Allison Janney, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, and Rob Lowe.
This acclaimed drama, which boasts an almost perfect 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, is now coming to Netflix.
Over time, The West Wing has alternated between Netflix and HBO Max, which is expected to be acquired by Netflix in a significant deal.
The series transitioned from Netflix to Max in 2020 and was briefly removed last December due to cost-saving strategies.
It was soon brought back to the platform.
Now, starting Tuesday (December 9), all nine seasons will become available for streaming on Netflix.
Reports indicate that The West Wing showrunner John Wells has secured a new arrangement with Netflix.
While this isn’t to revive the cherished political drama from the early 2000s, it is considered a ‘perfect replacement’ according to The Direct, highlighting Wells’ work on other successful dramas like Shameless and ER.
Wells previously produced The Maid for Netflix, starring Margaret Qualley, which became a trending hit with over 162 million views.
The upcoming series will reportedly see Wells collaborate with Phoebe Fisher, co-creator of the Prime Video adaptation of Cruel Intentions, for another project set in Washington DC.
As reported by Deadline, the new series is titled The Aisle and is currently in the development stage at Netflix.
This modern take will focus on the lives of young, ambitious staffers working for a newly appointed US senator.
The show will encapsulate themes that The West Wing was cherished for, including the ‘sexy, high-stakes chaos’ of personal lives, handling high-pressure roles, and the integrity (or lack thereof) of politicians.
Details about the project remain scarce, with no information on when filming will conclude, the air date, or casting.
Netflix has declined to comment on the development of The Aisle, according to Deadline.
In the meantime, viewers can catch up on all nine seasons.
Viewing the entire series will take approximately 154 hours, equating to about 6.4 days of nonstop watching.
Critics have previously praised The West Wing as ‘among the best hours of drama that this or any other weekly series has produced’.
The West Wing will be available for streaming on Netflix starting December 9.