It was clear when Netflix announced that Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” was getting a three-week exclusive theatrical run before hitting the streaming service, that other filmmakers would take notice and begin to consider their options with the company. Netflix, of course, is hoping that their initiative with “Roma” pays off as the company works its way through awards season. And also, the streaming service wouldn’t mind other filmmakers to think about this deal moving forward. But what about those high-profile directors that already signed on to work with Netflix. Will any of them get the “Roma” treatment?
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That seems to be the million-dollar question in the film industry right now. As “Roma” continues to garner accolades from critics and audiences, with Cuaron getting serious awards talk, people like Martin Scorsese have to be taking notice. And according to THR, that’s exactly what’s happening — Netflix’s lineup of superstar filmmakers might be positioning themselves for a “Roma”-like theatrical push.
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The report says that in light of the special treatment “Roma,” as well as “Bird Box” and “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” has received, Netflix might have to go back to the negotiating table with some of the filmmakers they’ve already signed.
Directors like Scorsese, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Soderbergh, and Michael Bay are reportedly interested in reconsidering the deals they signed with the streaming service. Scorsese, who is finishing up work on his highly-anticipated film “The Irishman,” could be the biggest film on Netflix’s 2019 slate, and would be a prime candidate for a “Roma” deal. The same for Soderbergh’s upcoming “The Laundromat,” which has an all-star A-list cast that is sure-thing Oscar bait. Bay on the other hand, while not the awards-contender that his colleagues are, is someone that brings in sizeable box office returns, and his Netflix film stars Ryan Reynolds, who is proven gold.
At this time, it’s mostly speculation to guess who might get the “Roma”-esque theatrical run, but THR does list some favorites that should be in the conversation. Soderbergh might be the most telling, considering his film is being positioned as an easy, early Oscar contender for next year, as it features Meryl Streep and various other acclaimed actors. However, Soderbergh has gone on record saying that a theatrical run (or even a festival appearance) are not anything he’s terribly concerned about. So, we’ll just have to see.
The first major domino to fall should be with “The Irishman.” Not only is THR reporting that Scorsese is reconsidering a theatrical run, but we’ve heard reports that the Cannes Film Festival is looking to use that film as a negotiating piece for its upcoming talks with Netflix.