Ed Sheeran’s One Shot Revealed: Inside Philip Barantini’s Next Big Move
Ed Sheeran is taking his music to the streets: Netflix’s ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran is a real-time New York City ride, directed by Emmy winner Philip Barantini, the filmmaker behind Netflix hit Adolescence.
Ed Sheeran is about to busk his way through New York City on Netflix, and the whole thing is happening in real time. Yes, one take. No do-overs. If that sounds like a stunt, it is — and that is kind of the point.
What is 'ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran'?
Netflix has lined up an experimental music special called 'ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran' that follows Sheeran through the streets of NYC as he drops in for impromptu performances — think sidewalks, subway cars, and a few postcard spots you will recognize. The twist: the camera never cuts.
'Follow the Grammy winner on an unforgettable journey through the streets of New York City as he delights pedestrians with impromptu performances of his greatest hits.'
Sheeran announced it with Netflix on Instagram on Monday night, Oct. 6. The special premieres November 21, 2025 on Netflix in the US.
The one-take thing is not a gimmick here
It is directed by Philip Barantini, an Emmy winner who has turned the single-shot approach into his calling card. If the name rings a bell, he is the guy behind the 2021 feature 'Boiling Point' and Netflix's 'Adolescence' — the buzzy series that shot each episode as one continuous sequence. 'ONE SHOT' borrows that exact style, tracking Sheeran over one afternoon as he plays his way through a very crowded city.
For the filmmaking nerds: this is very inside baseball. A true one-take in uncontrolled environments (hello, Manhattan) is chaos with choreography. Barantini has done it before, which is why Netflix is letting him do it again — this time with a pop star and a bunch of pedestrians who did not sign up for a concert.
Why Barantini is everywhere right now
'Adolescence' just cleaned up at the Emmys, winning 8 trophies out of 13 nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. The show stars Owen Cooper and follows a 13-year-old boy who gets caught up in the murder of a classmate. It is currently sitting at No. 2 on Netflix's Most Popular TV list with 142.6 million views, and it is sitting pretty with a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.1/10 on IMDb. Barantini took home two Emmys himself, as director and executive producer. That heat is carrying straight into 'ONE SHOT.'
Quick hits
- Title: 'ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran'
- Format: Real-time, single-take music special through NYC
- Director: Philip Barantini ('Adolescence', 'Boiling Point')
- What you will see: Sheeran performing greatest hits on sidewalks, subway cars, and other iconic spots
- When: November 21, 2025 on Netflix (US)
- Announced: Monday, Oct. 6, via Instagram with Netflix
- Style note: Same continuous-shot approach Barantini used on 'Adolescence' — no cuts, no safety net
Where Sheeran and Barantini go next
Sheeran — the 'Sapphire' hit-maker — just dropped his eighth studio album, 'Play', in September and is about to launch the Loop Tour, his sixth concert run. It kicks off December 1 in Paris, runs through Europe, the UK, and Ireland, and then heads to Australia and New Zealand in early 2026.
Barantini, meanwhile, is gearing up for 'Enola Holmes 3' at Netflix with Millie Bobby Brown. No release date yet on that one — and yes, despite the wording you might have seen floating around, it is a film, not a season.
Bottom line
If Barantini can stick the landing, this could feel less like a glossy special and more like a citywide busk with a very expensive camera track. I am curious to see how many New Yorkers even look up. Mark November 21, 2025.