David Farnor | On 25, Aug 2021

Melissa McCarthy is headed to Netflix this September in new comedy-drama The Starling, and a trailer gives us a first look at the film.

The film follows Lilly (Melissa McCarthy), who, after sufferring a loss, finds an unlikely avenue for her grief through a battle with a territorial bird (the Starling) over dominion of her garden. That conflict prompts the courage to heal her relationships and rediscover her capacity for love.

Written by Matt Harris (Madame Black, Snooze Time, 43,000 Feet) and directed by Theodore Melfi (Hidden Figures, St. Vincent), the film co-stars Chris O’Dowd, Kevin Kline, Timothy Olyphant, Daveed Diggs and Loretta Devine. You can see them all in action on 24th September, when the film debuts on Netflix. Here’s the trailer:

 

The Starling is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £8.99 monthly subscription.

 

Netflix nabs Melissa McCarthy’s The Starling

21st April 2020

Netflix has nabbed the global rights to The Starling, starring Melissa McCarthy.

The dramedy follows a married couple who suffer a hardship. Jack heads off to deal with grief while Lilly remains in the “real” world, dealing with her own guilt and a crippling internal struggle to live with a dark secret. As if Lilly’s troubles weren’t bad enough, a starling bird that has nested in her backyard begins to harass and attack her. This starling comes to represent all of Lilly’s problems, and she becomes obsessed with killing it. Lilly eventually finds guidance from Larry, a quirky psychologist-turned veterinarian with a troubled past of his own. The two form a unique and unlikely friendship as both help the other to explore, acknowledge and confront their problems.

McCarthy leads an impressively star-studded ensemble that includes Chris O’Dowd, Kevin Kline, Timothy Olyphant, Daveed Diggs and Loretta Devine. The film is written by Matt Harris (Madame Black, Snooze Time, 43,000 Feet) and directed by two-time Academy Award Nominee Theodore Melfi (Hidden Figures, St. Vincent).

With all those names involved, it’s no surprise that Netflix should be willing to stump up a reported $20 million for the global rights from Limelight, Entertainment One (eOne) and Boies Schiller Entertainment. Limelight’s Dylan Sellers and Chris Parker are producing the project, alongside Theodore Melfi and Kimberly Quinn, with Exec Producers including Boies Schiller’s Zack Schiller and David Boies, eOne’s Jen Gorton and Zev Foreman, Alex Dong and Gabby Revilla Lugo.

Add to Watchlist