Netflix confirms release dates for first original film slate
David Farnor | On 07, Jul 2015
Netflix has confirmed the release dates for its first slate of original feature films.
The announcement marks the culmination of the streaming service’s efforts to establish itself as content producer and distributor in its own right, moving from TV productions and documentary acquisitions to fictional features.
The rollout of its original film initiative will begin with Beasts of No Nation, written and directed by Cary Fukunaga (True Detective, Sin Nombre) and starring Idris Elba (Luther, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom). It will debut Friday 16th October 2015 worldwide on Netflix, in all territories where the world’s leading Internet TV network is available. US film distribution company Bleecker Street will release the film on the same day in select US cinemas.
The Ridiculous Six will be the first of four Adam Sandler films available only on Netflix. The film stars Sandler, Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Expendables 3, The Longest Yard), Jorge Garcia (Lost, Hawaii Five-0, The Wedding Ringer), Taylor Lautner (The Twilight Series), Rob Schneider (Real Rob, 50 First Dates, Grown Ups), Luke Wilson (The Skeleton Twins) and Nick Nolte (Warrior). The film will premiere exclusively for Netflix members on Friday 11th December 2015.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend will be released theatrically in China and on IMAX and on Netflix globally in Q1 2016, while Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, starring the infamous childrens’ character Pee-wee Herman, will premiere on Netflix in March 2016.
Here’s a brief recap of each project:
Beasts of No Nation
Beasts of No Nation is based on the acclaimed novel by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, bringing to life the gripping tale of Agu, a child soldier torn from his family to fight in the civil war of an African country. Newcomer Abraham Attah portrays Agu, while Elba plays Commandant, a warlord who takes in Agu and instructs him in the ways of war.
The film is produced by Amy Kaufman and Cary Fukunaga (who previously worked together on Sin Nombre), Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker and Dan Crown for Red Crown Productions, along with Elba. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King are executive producers for Participant Media and Donna Gigliotti is executive producer for Levantine Films.
The Ridiculous Six
The Ridiculous Six, a Happy Madison Production, is a comedic Western produced by Adam Sandler and Allen Covert. The film was directed by Frank Coraci (The Wedding Singer) and written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy, his co-writer on Pixels.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend
Based on the acclaimed novel, Iron Knight, Silver Vase, by Wang Dulu (book 5 in the Crane-Iron Pentalogy) and written by John Fusco (Marco Polo), this sequel is directed by Yuen Wo-Ping (Tai Chi Master), who was the action choreographer on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill and The Matrix.
The film stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Lady), reprising her role as Yu Shu-Lien, Donnie Yen (Ip Man 1&2) as Silent Wolf, Harry Shum Jr (Glee, Revenge of the Green Dragons), Jason Scott Lee (Seventh Son, Hawaii Five-O), Roger Yuan (Bulletproof Monk), Eugenia Yuan (Revenge of the Green Dragons) and newcomer Natasha Liu Bordizzo.
Produced by The Weinstein Company, The Green Legend echoes the themes of the original Crouching Tiger movie, but tells its own story — one of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and a last opportunity at redemption.
The film is produced by Harvey Weinstein (Academy Award winner – The King’s Speech, The Artist) and Peter Berg (Emmy Award winner – Friday Night Lights; Lone Survivor, Hancock) and Sarah Aubrey (Friday Night Lights; Lone Survivor, Hancock) and executive produced by Morten Tyldum (Headhunters,The Imitation Game), Ralph Winter (X-Men franchise), Anthony Wong, and Bey Logan (The Medallion).
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday
In Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, a fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday in this epic story of friendship and destiny. Judd Apatow (Anchorman, Bridesmaids) and Paul Reubens (Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Pee-wee’s Playhouse) worked together to bring the project to fruition and produced the film. It was written by Reubens and Paul Rust (Comedy Bang! Bang!, Arrested Development), and is directed by John Lee (Wonder Showzen, The Heart She Holler).