Netflix has bought another huge science-fiction film

The news comes four days after Netflix gave The Cloverfield Paradox a surprise release on its service

Netflix is slowly carving out quite the niche for itself.

Is the streaming service set to be the new home for ambitious sci-fi projects that studios have lost faith in? That have enough of a premise to reel the casual streaming viewer in, but not quite the clout to last a theatre run?

Four days after The Cloverfield Paradox hit Netflix, Variety has announced that the service has acquired the worldwide rights to Extinction from Universal, two months after it was pulled from the studio's release schedule.

The film stars Michael Peña and Lizzy Caplan as a husband and wife, with the former suffering from recurring nightmares about losing his family. Only for them to actually become a reality when the planet is invaded by an alien force bent on total destruction. In his efforts to defend them, he discovers an unknown strength.

The Cloverfield Paradox's dismal critical reception may seem to already preemptively doom Extinction, but it's worth considering this: Netflix also acquired the international release rights for Alex Garland (Ex Machina)'s Annihilation, another piece of sci-fi fare, which has received rave early reactions.

Extinction will hit Netflix later this year.

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.