Tina Fey's NBC comedy moving to Netflix

Netflix has given a rare two-season order to the Tina Fey and Robert Carlock comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which was initially slated to debut midseason on NBC.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt stars The Office’s Ellie Kemper as a woman who escapes a doomsday cult and starts life over in New York. The series also stars 30 Rock‘s Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Lauren Adams, Sara Chase, Sol Miranda and Carol Kane.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to debut Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt exclusively on Netflix, which has proven to be such an outstanding place for distinctive, original programming,” Fey and Carlock said in a statement. “Happily, we will still collaborate with our longtime partners at Universal Television to fulfill Netflix’s two-season order. We grew up at NBC and will continue to develop broadcast projects with them as well. We found the inspiration for this series in Ellie Kemper’s shining all-American face, and we know that she and Kimmy Schmidt have found their best possible home at Netflix.”

So, why is Schmidt moving from NBC to Netflix? “While it was originally developed for NBC, we have a very drama-heavy mid-season schedule so we’re thrilled about this Netflix opportunity; it’s an instant win-win for everyone, including Tina, Robert, and Universal Television,” NBC boss Robert Greenblatt said in a statement. “We’re already talking to these extraordinary creators about new development for NBC, but meanwhile, everyone here from Universal Television will do everything possible to see that Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt becomes a long-running hit on Netflix.”

The 13-episode first season will debut in March 2015.