Netflix is fulfilling two of its three promised Dave Chappelle comedy specials.
In a press release last November announcing Chappelle’s deal, said the iconic comedian was prepping “three all-new stand-up specials” for the streaming platform. “Dave Chappelle is a legendary voice in comedy — searing, vital, and now more than ever, essential,” Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary and Comedy, said in the press release. “Dave’s three new specials promise to be some of the most anticipated events in comedy, and we are honoured he will mark his global return on Netflix.”
Given that the two performances are previously recorded shows from his personal comedy vault, it isn’t surprising that Netflix was able to manage a fairly quick turnaround. One was filmed in April 2015 at Austin City Limits Live in Texas, while the other is a March 2016 show at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium. This will, however, be the first time they are presented as specials.
The teaser previews some of the topics the stand-up comedian covers, and it sounds like he’ll touch on a range of issues. He mentions everything from Martin Luther King Jr. to O.J. Simpson, not to mention Bigfoot riding a unicorn.
Beyond these two specials, Chappelle has an original production for Netflix planned. He has teamed up with director Stan Lathan, whom he previously worked with on an HBO special. So far, the premiere date hasn’t been revealed.
Chappelle has long been a big name in comedy. He has starred in hit films like Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Nutty Professor, and You’ve Got Mail, among others, as well as headlined — and later infamously walked away from — Chappelle’s Show. In the years following, he chose less high-profile work, but he has started to take on bigger gigs, including these highly anticipated Netflix specials.