Even in the glut of Netflix content, some projects prove too troublesome for the streamer to release. Variety reports that after myriad post-production delays, Netflix won’t complete or release “The Mothership,” a sci-fi movie starring Halle Berry. The film wrapped filming back in 2021, but Netflix won’t finish work on the movie, shelving it permanently.
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“The Mothership” would have been the directorial debut for Brish screenwriter/playwright Matt Charman, best known stateside for co-penning Steven Spielberg‘s 2015 feature “Bridge Of Spies” with the Coen Brothers. Charman also wrote the movie, about a single mother who finds an object of alien origin underneath his house a year after her husband disappears. Along with Berry, “The Mothership” also stars Molly Parker and Omari Hardwick.
Netflix may be scrapping “The Mothership,” but it doesn’t end their relationship with Berry. She stars in an upcoming actioner for the streamer called “The Union,” which also stars Mark Wahlberg. Netflix also produced Berry’s 2020 directorial debut “Bruised,” about a disgraced female MMA fighter who reconnects with her son. After that film premiered at TIFF that year, Netflix signed a multi-picture deal with Berry.
As for Charman, it’s not clear if he’ll move on to another project for his directorial debut. He has a couple of other upcoming writing projects, though. First up, he pens “Killer Heat,” about twin brothers who get caught in a love triangle while vacationing in the Greek islands. That film, already in post-production, stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Richard Madden, with “Night Of The Kings” director Philippe Lacôte helming. Then Charman serves as creator on “The Connection,” an upcoming TV show that tackles the French side of William Friedkin‘s crime classic “The French Connection.” Expect more details on that one soon.
Sometimes movies don’t work out and fail to make it to audiences, but studio shelving films in post-production is more common trend post-COVID. Take Warner Bros., for example. Since David Zaslav took over as CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, he’s canceled three films after they wrapped shooting: “Batgirl,” “Coyote Vs. Acme,” and “Scoob! Holiday Haunt.” In the case of those moves, it was about tax write-offs for Zaslav and the studio on a whole adjusting course under his leadership. But in the case of “The Mothership,” Netflix remains tightlipped as to why they won’t release the film. In any case, it’s on the shelf, and with everyone involved moving on to other projects, it may be shelved for good.