Cinema & TVNews & features

Netflix announces Russell Brand documentary Open Secret following rape conviction and prison sentence

By The editorial unit

Share this story

Netflix announces Russell Brand documentary Open Secret following rape conviction and prison sentence

"Man with long, dark hair and a beard wearing a black jacket stands in front of a reddish-brown wooden wall, looking intensely to the side."
Russell Brand in Russell Brand: Open Secret. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

Netflix is set to release a new documentary examining the rise and fall of Russell Brand, just days after the former comedian and actor was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Titled Russell Brand: Open Secret, the film charts his journey from comedy and Hollywood stardom to political activism and conspiracy-driven online commentary, before allegations of sexual misconduct led to a high-profile criminal trial.

On 5th November, Brand was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women, relating to offences committed between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted of two further rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault, before receiving his prison sentence on 9th November.

The documentary will revisit Brand’s career and the investigation by The Times and The Sunday Times that brought allegations against him to public attention. Featuring archive footage and contributions from people familiar with his story, it also includes insights from journalists Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace, who worked on the investigation.

Directed by Olivia Isaacs, the film comes from 72 Films, the production company behind Netflix’s Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story, as well as 9/11: One Day in America and The Zelensky Story.

Arriving in the wake of one of Britain’s most closely watched celebrity criminal trials, Russell Brand: Open Secret examines the public image, career and circumstances surrounding the downfall of a once-prominent entertainment figure.

The editorial unit

Russell Brand: Open Secret premieres on Netflix on 13th November 2026.