Succession Reality: Netflix’s Murdoch Dynasty Documentary Unveiled

The Murdoch Succession, Now With a Succession Soundtrack

The real-life drama that inspired HBO’s biting satire Succession is back in the spotlight, this time as the subject of a four-part Netflix documentary, Dynasty: The Murdochs. The series, directed by Liz Garbus (known for documentaries like Harry & Meghan), arrives at a particularly resonant moment, following the recent and very public, power struggle within the Murdoch family after the death of patriarch Rupert Murdoch. The documentary’s release is accompanied by a deliciously meta touch: the use of Succession’s signature, unsettling theme tune throughout, a musical reminder of the fictionalized echoes of the family’s real-life infighting. The timing is no accident; as The Independent notes, a memo sent by a Murdoch representative in 2023, fearing a Succession-style implosion, ironically triggered a very real legal battle and a $3.3 billion settlement.

From Australian Tabloids to Global Empire

Dynasty: The Murdochs traces the family’s trajectory from Rupert Murdoch’s early days building a newspaper empire in Australia to his eventual control of media giants like Fox and News Corp. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the controversial tactics employed along the way, particularly the tabloid practices that defined much of Murdoch’s career. Garbus’s approach differs from the BBC’s 2020 series, The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty, which, while meticulously researched, lacked the benefit of hindsight and the resolution offered by recent events. The new Netflix series benefits from a wealth of insider accounts, drawing on interviews with former Murdoch employees and journalists who chronicled the family’s rise and fall.

A Chorus of Insiders

What sets Dynasty apart is the sheer number of voices willing to speak on the record. The documentary features contributions from Jim Rutenberg and Jonathan Mahler of The New York Times, who extensively covered the Nevada trust battle, and McKay Coppins of The Atlantic, who secured rare access to James Murdoch. Fleet Street veterans and Australian journalists also contribute, offering a comprehensive view of the Murdoch empire from multiple perspectives. Even Hugh Grant makes an appearance, recounting his experience being targeted by News of the World reporters after his 1995 arrest. As Grant recalls, the paper’s methods were shockingly brazen: “What did Murdoch want us to do? Find the girl, give her $250,000 to share us all about what Hugh Grant asked you to do in his car.”

Phone Hacking and the Dark Arts of Tabloid Journalism

The documentary doesn’t gloss over the darker chapters of Murdoch’s media empire, particularly the phone-hacking scandal that rocked News International. Former reporters detail the extent of the illegal practices employed to gather information, recalling their methods with a disturbing level of candor. Paul McMullan, a former News of the World reporter, describes obtaining stolen photographs of celebrities like Naomi Campbell and Carla Bruni, and the enthusiastic response from then-editor Piers Morgan. “On the basis of that, I got my staff job for stealing, basically,” McMullan claims. These passages, as The Independent points out, are particularly chilling, offering a stark reminder of the ethical compromises made in pursuit of sensational headlines. You can read more about the phone hacking scandal and its aftermath here.

The Streaming Wars and a Family Divided

Beyond the scandals and infighting, Dynasty also explores the business pressures that contributed to the recent power struggle. The rise of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon fundamentally altered the media landscape, forcing traditional companies like Fox to adapt or risk being left behind. By 2017, as reporter Matthew Belloni explains, Fox lacked the scale to compete effectively. This realization ultimately led to the sale of a significant portion of the company to Disney, a move that fractured the Murdoch family and set the stage for the battle over control that unfolded in the years that followed. The Disney deal, as the documentary illustrates, was Rupert Murdoch’s acknowledgement that the media world had changed irrevocably.

A Pyrrhic Victory?

The documentary culminates in the recent handover of control to Lachlan Murdoch, a decision that sparked outrage among other family members and led to the aforementioned $3.3 billion settlement. As journalist Gabriel Sherman observes, Rupert Murdoch’s dream of building a lasting family business ultimately resulted in a business that destroyed his family. The series, much like Succession itself, is a tragicomedy of wealth, power, and familial dysfunction. The parallels between the fictional Roys and the real-life Murdochs are undeniable, and Dynasty: The Murdochs offers a compelling, and often unsettling, glimpse behind the curtain of one of the world’s most powerful media dynasties. For further reading on the Murdoch family and their influence, Vanity Fair’s extensive coverage provides valuable context.

What’s Next for the Murdochs and Their Empire?

With Rupert Murdoch now stepping back, the focus shifts to Lachlan’s leadership of Fox and News Corp. The immediate future will likely involve navigating the challenges of the evolving media landscape, including the ongoing competition from streaming services and the need to maintain profitability in a rapidly changing market. The documentary doesn’t offer predictions, but it does lay bare the complex dynamics at play within the family and the potential for further conflict. The long-term implications of Lachlan’s control remain to be seen, but Dynasty: The Murdochs provides a crucial foundation for understanding the forces that will shape the future of the Murdoch empire. You can find more information about Lachlan Murdoch’s current role and responsibilities at News Corp’s leadership page.