Netflix Has Two Forthcoming Dave Chappelle Specials In the Works

While teasing 2022 Netflix features, in a recent interview with Variety, Scott Stuber, head of global films at Netflix, talked Dave Chappelle's new documentary and future stand-up specials.

Although Netflix faced backlash after Dave Chappelle stand-up special The Closer, the streaming service will continue a collaborative partnership with the comedian. During a virtual interview with Variety, Netflix head of global films, Scott Stuber, spoke about the Chappelle controversy, offering data transparency with viewers to coincide with rollouts of future stand-up specials.

Acknowledging that Chappelle's jokes were hurtful to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Stuber extended grace and redemption to the comedian:

“Everything in life is about evolution. I don’t think that there was a hate crime or anything in that. It’s about learning,” Stuber said. “I think for Dave as an artist, he’s looking to provoke and make people think about things. And sometimes that is not what you or I like, or anyone likes, but it’s about conversation. You have to go, ‘OK, this guy’s going to a place,’ and to your point earlier, ‘I don’t have to watch it.’ But I do think he is a provocateur and a sharp, thoughtful standup who really looks at culture and has some interesting ways to take it down and make light of it.”

Netflix hasn't considered buying the rights to Chappelle's new Untitled documentary, which concluded a 11-city film tour in November. Stuber referenced that Chappelle still has two more specials with Netflix under his belt, and he was welcome to converse with the platform about distributing his documentary.

“Dave’s made this choice, I think, to take it around and roadshow it and do these different shows and different theatrical things and different big stadium stuff, and he’s in the midst of that, which seems to be what he’s going after,” Stuber said. "And if he did want to have the conversation about it, we would have the conversation. So it’s really about when and if he decides what he wants to do with it in the next iteration. And if he wants to have the conversation about what it means to sell it and distribute it, we will have that conversation with him.”

Dave Chappelle will be a headliner for Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival at The Hollywood Bowl in early-2022.