Baz Luhrmann’s Netflix Series ‘The Get Down’ To Take Production Hiatus

Baz Luhrmann’s music-driven Netflix series The Get Down will take a short break to catch up on scripts. The drama, from Sony Pictures TV, is currently filming Episode 4 in New York. After the episode wraps on Thursday, the show will take a previously unscheduled break, during which there will be writing work done on future episodes. The hiatus is slated to last one episode production cycle, which is 9 shooting days.

Taking a pause in production is not unusual for ambitious TV productions helmed by A-list filmmakers used to the big canvas and resources of big-budget Hollywood movies. Sources indicate that Netflix executives are happy with what they have seen so far in terms of Luhrmann’s vision being brought to the screen. There is no fixed release date for The Get Down, which allowed the streaming service and Sony TV to take the break.

Set in 1970s New York City, the series — a long-time passion project for Luhrmann — revolves around a ragtag crew of South Bronx teenagers who are wild in the streets — nothings and nobodies with no one to shelter them, except one another.

The Get Down stars Jimmy Smits (“Francisco Cruz” aka “Papa Fuerte”), Herizen Guardiola (“Mylene Cruz”), Justice Smith (“Ezekiel”), Shameik Moore (“Shaolin Fantastic”), Yahya Abdul-Mateen (“Cadillac”) and Mamoudou Athie (“Grandmaster Flash”).

The 13-episode series from Luhrmann, Shawn Ryan and Sony Pictures Television, will debut in all Netflix territories in 2016. Catherine Martin, Paul Watters, Thomas Kelly, Stephen Adly Guirgis, and Marney Hochman executive produce alongside Luhrmann and Ryan.