Simon Cowell is reportedly set to sign a huge deal with Netflix to launch a brand new talent show to find the next One Direction.
The music mogul, 64, helped form the famous boyband, made up of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Niall Horan on The X Factor in 2010, where they came third.
He then signed the group to his record label, Syco Records, and the band soon skyrocketed to global success, becoming one of the best-selling boybands of all time.
Now Simon is said to be looking to find another group that can equal One Direction’s success, with a new talent contest.
According to The Sun, filming for the show is believed to have already begun in the UK in partnership with production company Box To Box films.
Simon Cowell is reportedly set to sign a huge deal with Netflix to launch a brand new talent show to find the next One Direction (pictured last month)
The music mogul, 64, helped form the famous boyband, made up of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Niall Horan on The X Factor in 2010, where they came third (pictured on show L-R Louis, Zayn, Simon, Niall, Harry and Liam)
He then signed the group to his record label, Syco Records, and the band soon skyrocketed to global success, becoming one of the best-selling boybands of all time (pictured in 2014)
Sources have claimed that Simon was in a bidding war after first pitching the show, with Apple and Prime Video also keen to come on board.
However, they say he is now in talks with Netflix and ready to sign a huge deal, and has already joined forced with a PR firm to prepare to announce the show in the coming weeks.
The source told the publication: ‘Simon is preparing to sign a huge deal with Netflix to find the world’s next biggest boy band.
‘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. Simon knew The X Factor had grown tired so he wanted to do something that looked completely fresh and new.
‘He is renowned for spotting talent and One Direction’s success came off the back of him putting them together. Simon wants to replicate this and find a group who can reach the heights One Direction did.
‘Filming for the show has already started in the UK and he is so excited about what’s to come.’
Simon’s new project comes six years after the final series of The X Factor, which he admitted took a toll on him.
The TV personality previously said becoming a father changed his life and helped him overcome an all-encompassing obsession with work that left him ‘depressed, miserable’ and unable to sleep.
Now Simon is said to be looking to find another group that can equal One Direction’s success, with a new talent contest (pictured in 2013)
Sources have claimed that Simon was in a bidding war after first pitching the show, with Apple and Prime Video also keen to come on board (pictured last month)
His straight-talking appraisals as head judge helped earn him a reputation as TV’s Mr. Nasty, but behind the scenes he admits to working round the clock in a frantic bid to help the show stay one step ahead of the competition.
And Simon says becoming a father late in life helped steer him away from his dark, desperate and ultimately doomed attempt to salvage the former ITV flagship from a rapid decline in popularity by toying with its once successful format.
He told The Sun: ‘Before Eric, my life was 99 percent work — I was obsessed with it. I got to that point where everything was about, “If you’re not rating against this then you’re a failure” and I stopped enjoying what I was doing and I was miserable the whole time.
‘I was obsessed with beating the competition. I took it to a ridiculous level and I would get really down about that stuff, to the point I was depressed.’
Simon and his fiancée Lauren Silverman welcomed son Eric, 10, on Valentine’s Day 2014.
Simon says becoming a father late in life helped steer him away from his desperate attempt to save X Factor (pictured with his fiancée Lauren Silverman and son Eric, 10, last year)
