Jane Campion Is Concerned Netflix Might Become "More Picky" Due To Business Concerns & Not Take "Risks" Anymore

Netflix isn’t having a really great 2022, so far. The company has been hampered by slow growth and a stock valuation that greatly declined. And because of this, folks in Hollywood are wondering what’s going to happen next? Will Netflix continue to champion auteur-driven cinema as it has in the past or will it focus solely on four-quadrant blockbusters and comedies? We’re not sure, yet, and Jane Campion is worried about that prospect also. 

Speaking to the BBC, Jane Campion talked about the recent news surrounding Netflix and the company’s money issues. And by money issues, we’re mainly discussing the fact that the stock has tumbled after subscriber growth has greatly decreased. In light of this, Netflix has recently been cutting jobs and talked openly about becoming more strategic with its spending. Now, Campion is worried that Netflix’s new strategy could impact the types of filmmakers who are able to get projects financed.

READ MORE: Elisabeth Moss Talks Missing Out On ‘The Power Of The Dog’ & Hoping To Reunite With Jane Campion

“I do think they’re going to be more picky about other projects or, maybe, what’s sad is not taking risks on people without names,” Campion said.

Obviously, the filmmaker realizes that she’s one of the lucky ones who likely wouldn’t get hurt by Netflix’s upcoming cuts. Campion, of course, has worked with the streamer previously, most recently on the Oscar-winning period drama, “The Power of the Dog.” 

She added, “I don’t think it would be hard for me if I wanted to do something because I’ve established a relationship and they’re incredibly loyal.”

Campion’s concern over Netflix’s future has to do with the fact that the filmmaker has witnessed, firsthand, the way other studios pass on more challenging projects nowadays if the budget isn’t incredibly small. And it’s not like “The Power of the Dog” cost as much as a Marvel Studios blockbuster. Campion admits that Netflix didn’t pay (a previously reported) $30 million to finance the feature, but it was close enough to that number that other studios balked at the idea of funding the project.

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“They didn’t offer me that much, that would have been nice,” the filmmaker said. “They offered something close-ish and no, the film couldn’t have been made without them because we took it to the market and there were several different people interested. But we had budgeted the cost of it and the only people that were willing to go near that was Netflix.”

As we know, the film ultimately would go on to be nominated for a ton of Oscars and Campion walked away with Best Director earlier this year. However, ‘Dog’ was expected by many to take home the night’s biggest prize, Best Film, but that went to “CODA” instead, which was a divisive choice, to say the least. Regardless, Campion isn’t upset over the snub.

“With the Academy, it seemed that ‘CODA’ really captured the hearts of people,” Campion said. “It was an easier film to understand and, you know, that’s the way it went and I’m happy for them.”

It’s unclear what project Jane Campion will work on next. She’s definitely not the type of filmmaker to rush into a new film. But, hopefully, when the time comes, Netflix will be there to write Campion a check.