Netflix has been making huge strides in the past couple of years with their ever-expanding list of original movies, television shows, and comedy specials.
But this may be one of the few times the streaming service company snatched a film from a Hollywood giant.
Netflix has taken over Martin Scorsese’s $100-million gangster movie “The Irishman,” and is in the process of closing a deal to release the movie to its 93 million subscribers in 190 countries.
Yeah, talk about a high steal!
According to Indiewire, the movie was originally going to be backed by Paramount Pictures, but their 12-year chairman Brad Grey is retiring soon.
Using the opportunity, Scorsese’s team put together another package for the film that the company couldn’t comply with. Which Netflix, apparently, can comply to with little issue.
In “The Irishman," De Niro will be made to look 30 again by the effects masters at ILM, “Benjamin-Button”-style, which is a feat that will be impressive to see.
Steve Zaillian adapted the screenplay from Charles Brandt‘s book, “I Heard You Paint Houses.” The novel takes the reader into the life of Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, a mob hitman whose illustrious career is today best known for a supposed involvement in the death of Jimmy Hoffa.
[anad]
In a bidding war with Lionsgate, Fox, and Universal, “The Irishman” sold for $50 million to rising studio STX Entertainment.
That price was particularly steep because Scorsese’s rambunctious (Editor's Note: that's one way of putting it) Leonardo DiCaprio comedy, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” was a global hit that scored $392 million.
Now, per their usual custom, Netflix is acquiring all world rights, meaning all other studios, such as STX, will not be able to release it anywhere else.
The movie has no official release date yet, but sources say they are aiming for 2019, so it can qualify for that Oscar timeline.
Al Pacino and other talents are still in negotiations for casting. The best part of the deal is that Scorsese won't have any restrictions on film length. Lord help us.
[via Indiewire] [Feature Image Courtesy Reddit]