James R | On 22, Mar 2019

This month, Netflix releases The Highwaymen in UK cinemas and online.

Directed by John Lee Hancock and written by John Fusco, the film tells the the untold true story of the legendary detectives who brought down Bonnie and Clyde. It follows the two former Texas Rangers who were brought out of retirement to bring the famous duo to justice. When the full force of the FBI and the latest forensic technology aren’t enough to capture the nation’s most notorious criminals, the men must rely on their gut instincts and old school skills to get the job done.

It’s a project that has been in the works in some form or another for so long that even Paul Newman and Robert Redford were once attached to it. In 2017, though, it was confirmed that production was underway, produced by Casey Silver, with Harrelson and Costner together on screen for the first time. They are joined by Kathy Bates, John Carroll Lynch and Kim Dickens.

“Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson are on arresting form in this outlaw drama that plays by the books,” we wrote in our review of the movie.

The film is screening in UK cinemas from Friday 22nd March, with Netflix once again partnering with Curzon to show it in Canterbury, Colchester, Knutsford, Oxford, Ripon and Sheffield, as well as Aldgate, Bloomsbury, Mayfair, Victoria and Wimbledon in London. From Friday 29th March, it will screen in London’s Aldgate and Wimbledon Curzon cinemas.

The release comes as Netflix faces growing pressure to release its films with a traditional theatrical window of several months before streaming, and to release its films in a wider range of cinemas. With Vue and Cineworld criticising BAFTA for giving awards to Roma, though, Netflix’s options remain limited for big screen distribution, due to multiplexes refusing to work with day-and-date titles. Smaller, independent cinemas are calling for Netflix to work with them to screen their movies in addition to Curzon’s venues. In the meantime, those wanting to see the film without a cinema screening near them can stream it on Netflix from Friday 29th March.

 

The Highwaymen is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.

 

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