Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) is in damage control mode after suffering a significant security breach that led to the leak of full episodes from several highly anticipated shows.
On Aug. 6, episodes from upcoming series, including "Arcane" Season 2, "Terminator Zero," "Ranma 1⁄2," and others, surfaced on platforms such as X/Twitter and 4chan. This incident has sparked concern across the streaming and animation communities.
In a statement to IGN, a Netflix spokesperson confirmed that one of their post-production partners had been compromised, leading to the unauthorized release of footage.
"Our team is aggressively taking action to have it taken down," the spokesperson stated. Netflix has since been working tirelessly to remove the leaked content from various online platforms, but traces of it, such as screenshots and hyperlinks, still linger.
Furthermore, this breach did not solely affect Netflix. Crunchyroll was also targeted, albeit to a lesser extent, with the premiere episode of the popular isekai anime "Re: Zero" being leaked.
What's Next For Netflix After Major Content Leak?
The leaks initially prompted fear among fans that Netflix might not take adequate steps to address the situation, especially given the two-day period of silence from the streaming giant.
Among the affected content, "Arcane" Season 2 and "Heartstopper" Season 3 are particularly noteworthy due to their large fanbases. Other shows, including "Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld," "Dandadan," and "Spellbound," were also leaked, along with the highly anticipated film "Plankton: The Movie."
Meanwhile, while a vocal minority of fans suggested that Netflix should release the affected episodes early to counter the leaks, the majority supported waiting for the official release dates.
Upcoming Release Dates For Affected Shows:
- "Terminator Zero": Aug. 29
- "Heartstopper" Season 3: Oct. 3
- "Ranma 1⁄2": Oct. 5
- "Re: Zero" Season 3: October
- "Dandadan": October
- "Arcane" Season 2: November
- "Spellbound": Nov. 22
- "Plankton: The Movie": 2025
- 'Squid Game' Season 2 Ignites August Buzz With Netflix's Christmas Lineup Including NFL Games
Image credits: Unsplash.