Netflix's Reed Hastings: No interest in 'inclusion riders' for diversity

Jefferson Graham | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Netflix's 'Altered Carbon' presents idea of body-swapping immortality The new Netflix series is set in the future where people can swap bodies when their old one wears out. What results is an immortality for people who don't always deserve it. (Feb. 5)

Corrections & Clarifications: Luke Cage was the first original series for Netflix with a black superhero.

HOLLYWOOD — Netflix has no interest in taking up Oscar-winner Frances McDormand's proposal to add "inclusion riders" into contracts to get cast and crews more diverse.

"We’re not so big on doing everything through agreements," said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, at a press meeting at its offices here. "We’re trying to do things creatively."

He would rather have his staff speak with the filmmakers about how many women and people of color are working on the project before shooting begins. "That's how we look at it."

Sunday, McDormand, who won for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri called for an inclusion rider in her acceptance speech. The rider is a sentence in a contract where actors and actresses can require hiring of a diverse cast and crew.

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Netflix now has 117 million subscribers and plays an increasingly influential role in Hollywood thanks to deep pockets and production of original shows.

It's received kudos for the diversity of the actors, writers and directors in some of its sought-after series, such as Orange is the New Black and Marvel's Luke Cage (Netflix's first series centered on a black superhero).

Its latest high-profile production, the second season of Jessica Jones that debuts Thursday, features a woman who is a former superhero. And it recently signed a deal with Shonda Rhimes, who has built an empire of TV shows with African-American leads (Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder) to make series for Netflix.

But the Netflix board consists of white men and a few white women. African Americans only make up 4% of staff and leadership; Latinos comprise 6% of staff and 5% of leaders.

Comedian Mo’Nique recently called for a boycott of Netflix over race- and gender-based pay issues, noting that white comics were being paid more than black comics.

Due to its hiring and board representation, "Suffice to say, you won’t find Netflix on the Black Enterprise “50 Best Companies for Diversity” list," noted Black Enterprise recently.

Follow USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham on Twitter, @jeffersongraham