Hidden Figures writer heads to Netflix for El Camino Christmas
David Farnor | On 26, Apr 2017
Hidden Figures writer Ted Melfi is heading to Netflix for his next project, El Camino Christmas.
Melfi first began work on the movie a decade ago, after buying a script with co-writer Chris Wehner. Now, after getting an Oscar nomination for Hidden Figures, the Best Picture contender about the unsung African-American women who played a key role in NASA’s history, Melfi has caught the eye of Netflix – and the streaming giant’s support will see his labour of love finally reach the screen.
“Finally, with the help of Netflix, which has been so fantastic, we are getting this movie off the ground in time for Christmas,” Melfi tells Deadline, which broke the news on the project.
The picture is directed by Almost Christmas’ Dave Talbert and produced by Melfi and Kimberly Quinn, through their Goldenlight Films banner, and through Melfi’s Brother production company. Rich Carter, Lyn and Dave Talbert, Uri Singer and Jack Murray are on exec-producing duties.
“On the heels of Oscars and Hidden Figures, it’s exciting to jump in with Netflix and create this movie,” says Quinn, who was a co-producer on Hidden Figures and helped develop that script. “The last few months have been somewhat of a whirlwind but it’s good to get back to work on a passion project such as this.”
The team are not wasting any time, already gathering together an impressive cast, which will be led by Tim Allen and Vincent D’Onofrio and includes Luke Grimes, Dax Shepard, Jimmy O and Quinn. The story follows a young man, played by Grimes, who is looking for a father he’s never met, but ends up barricaded in an off-licence on Christmas Eve with five other people.
The film will begin shooting in Los Angeles on 1st May.