BREAKING: Netflix Announces 16-Episode Series with Red Hot Chili Peppers Directing — Recreating the Journey and Life of Chad Smith
In a stunning announcement that has taken the entertainment and music worlds by surprise, Netflix has officially confirmed a 16-episode limited series chronicling the extraordinary rise, challenges, and legacy of the Red Hot Chili Peppers — one of the most revolutionary and enduring names in modern rock history. Even more astonishing, the series will be directed by the band members themselves, with a special focus on drummer Chad Smith’s remarkable life story.
The project, currently titled Under the Bridge: The Chad Smith Chronicles, will take viewers on a cinematic journey from Smith’s early years in Michigan to his meteoric rise as one of the greatest drummers of his generation. Combining elements of raw documentary realism with dramatized re-creations, the series aims to explore not just the band’s legendary success, but the personal battles, creative struggles, and spiritual rebirths that shaped the man behind the drum kit.
Netflix described the show as a “groundbreaking exploration of rhythm, rebellion, and resilience,” noting that each episode will highlight pivotal moments from the band’s history — from the underground punk clubs of Los Angeles in the early 1980s to the global stadium tours that cemented the Peppers as icons of alternative rock. The storytelling will weave in never-before-seen footage, interviews with the band and close collaborators, and newly shot performance sequences filmed in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.
Chad Smith, known for his powerhouse drumming and playful personality, expressed deep emotion about the project. “This isn’t just about the music — it’s about the brotherhood, the chaos, and the healing,” Smith said in a statement. “We’ve lived through fire, loss, love, and rebirth. Now, we’re ready to tell that story our way.”
The other band members — Anthony Kiedis, Flea, and John Frusciante — will also take turns directing key episodes, offering their own unique visual and emotional interpretations of the band’s four-decade-long odyssey. Insiders describe the tone of the series as part Bohemian Rhapsody, part The Last Dance, blending cinematic storytelling with the authenticity that has always defined the Chili Peppers.
Netflix’s Head of Music Documentaries, Lydia Ramos, called the collaboration “a landmark creative partnership,” saying:
“What makes this series so powerful is that it’s not being told about the Red Hot Chili Peppers — it’s being told by them. Their perspective, their voice, their truth. It’s raw, unfiltered, and deeply human.”
Production is set to begin in early 2026, with the series expected to premiere globally in late 2027. A-list cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant, Birdman) has reportedly signed on as executive producer of photography, suggesting a visually stunning experience that will match the emotional and sonic power of the Peppers’ music.
Fans have already taken to social media to express excitement and disbelief, with hashtags like #ChadSmithNetflix and #RHCPSeries trending within hours of the announcement. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Sixteen episodes directed by the Peppers themselves? This is going to be the definitive story of rock’s most fearless band.”
As the Red Hot Chili Peppers continue to tour and inspire new generations, this Netflix collaboration promises to immortalize their legacy in a way no biography or concert film ever has. For millions of fans around the world, Under the Bridge: The Chad Smith Chronicles will be more than a documentary — it will be a celebration of survival, creativity, and the enduring heartbeat of rock and roll.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ story is about to be retold — this time, through their own eyes, and with Netflix’s global stage as their amplifier.
