Netflix releases Niners-Rams ‘FNL’-inspired pregame opener from Peter Berg

The iconic television show “Friday Night Lights” turns 20 this fall, and Netflix saw an opportunity to turn nostalgia for the fictional Dillon Panthers into an exciting open for its slate of games in 2026.

The streamer tapped Peter Berg, the executive producer and director of ‘FNL’ and the movie that preceded it, to write and create four openers – the first for the Australia game Sept. 10 featuring the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.

The idea for a “FNL”-inspired opener came from Gabe Spitzer, Netflix’s vice president of global live sports and entertainment, Berg said. Generally, invoking the beloved program is something Berg has tried to veer from in his projects since. But he thought about it and made a key call, to Kyle Chandler, aka “Coach Taylor” from the show. Chandler narrates the spot and you can almost picture him wearing a blue (or red) Dillon jacket while addressing a room of teenagers.

Another “‘FNL” callback is the soundtrack, with the band “Explosions In the Sky” providing a tune that is quite similar to the show’s theme song.

“So consider this a reintroduction from me and everyone at ‘Friday Night Lights’ to all of our fans…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/