Simon Cowell is about to ink a big deal with Netflix to start a new talent show aimed at discovering the next One Direction. The mogul implied that The X Factor was no longer cutting it.
The 64-year-old music magnate was one of the principal reasons the popular boyband came together. In 2010, the five future members of One Direction auditioned as solo acts, but Cowell and fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger grouped Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Niall Horan together to keep them in the competition.
The group quickly shot to international fame and became one of the all-time best-selling boybands after he signed them to his record company, Syco Records.
Simon Cowell is Looking for The Next One Direction
With a new talent competition, Cowell reportedly wants to find a group that can match One Direction's success.
The Sun UK is even reporting that filming for the show may have already begun.
According to sources, Cowell was involved in a bidding battle with Apple and Prime Video after initially pitching the project.
But they also claim that he is in negotiations with Netflix right now, ready to seal a big contract and has already partnered with a public relations company to get ready to reveal the show in the upcoming weeks.
"Simon is preparing to sign a huge deal with Netflix to find the world's next biggest boy band," the source informed the publication.
"He is working with the team behind Drive To Survive on the show and wanted to get it on a streamer because it fits the audience better."
Will One Direction Ever Reunite?
One Direction was one of Simon Cowell's biggest wins after he signed them to his label, and it may be tough to top their record-breaking career. The boy band released five albums, went on four world tours, and topped charts worldwide. After selling 65 million albums worldwide, the band went on indefinite hiatus in January 2016 so that the members could pursue individual projects.
They've had varying levels of success, but each One Directioner has released at least one solo album. Harry Styles's latest effort, Harry's House, won the Album of the Year Grammy in 2023, and Zayn Malik's fouth album, Room Under the Stars, will be out May 17, 2024.
And while there doesn't appear to be any current movement toward the band reuniting, they all tend to agree to "never say never." In April 2023, Styles told The Late Late Show host James Corden, "I would never say never to [a 1D reunion] ... If there was a time when we all felt that was what we wanted to do, then I don't see why we wouldn't." Shortly after, Niall Horan told Entertainment Tonight Canada, "I agree with Harry. Same thin as he said."
Around that time, Louis Tomlinson told The Times,"I'd be surprised if we lived out our lives and didn't have a moment where we had a reunion...I'd be up for that," and Liam Payne revealed that the fivesome had a new group chat going.
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