Comedian and influencer Druski has signed a multiyear development and licensing deal with Netflix through his company, 4Lifers Entertainment. Netflix describes the arrangement as covering a specific number of projects rather than a traditional overall or first-look structure.
The first project under the deal, Collect & Praise, premieres December 1. The semi-scripted comedy series expands Druski’s viral megachurch pastor character, following a money-hungry pastor, played by Druski, and his unpredictable deacon, played by Mike Epps, as the two scheme their way through money scandals, church chaos, and public controversy. The character originated in an internet sketch and later went viral again during a BET Awards appearance.
As part of the deal, Netflix will also license select titles from Druski’s existing catalog, including Coulda Been Love, Coulda Been Daddy, Coulda Been Records Auditions, and his comedic sketches, content that’s collectively generated more than 1 billion views on YouTube.
The partnership marks a notable shift for Druski, who built his career by self-financing and independently distributing content online after facing early rejections from traditional streaming platforms. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Druski, born Drew Desbordes, said Netflix had previously passed on “multiple different projects” of his over the years. “Now, it’s a whole different story,” he said. “Now they want to purchase these shows that we’ve made and do more in the future. Now, it’s a bidding war.” That reversal reflects a broader pattern among major streamers increasingly competing for creators who built substantial, proven audiences entirely outside the traditional industry pipeline, rather than developing that audience from within a studio system.
Druski called the deal an opportunity to build on the comedy foundation he’s already established, saying it will let him “bring my work to a new global audience.” John Derderian, who oversees Next Gen Content at Netflix, said Druski has “a gift for building characters that people can’t stop talking about,” calling Collect & Praise “just the beginning.”
The deal arrives during an especially high-profile stretch for Druski. He’s set to become the first digital creator to host Saturday Night Live this weekend, following his turn as the youngest-ever BET Awards host earlier this year. He’s also attached to star opposite Emma Stone and Chris Pine in the upcoming romantic comedy The Catch, and is developing the film The Diggers alongside Kenya Barris. His accolades this year include the Pulse Award at the BET Awards, the Special Achievement Award at the Webby Awards, and the top spot on Rolling Stone’s Most Influential Creator List.
With a creator-first deal structured around a defined slate of projects rather than an open-ended overall agreement, Netflix’s bet on Druski signals a calculated approach to bringing digital-native talent into scripted television, one project at a time rather than an unlimited commitment upfront.