By This is huge. Formerly a Universal production, following an intense bidding war for the script, heist-thriller Red Notice was languishing at a halt given its huge, boulder-like star and the costs that come with him. Enter, Netflix.
Deadline reports that the streaming titan reached a deal with screenwriter and director Rawson Marshall Thurber, committing the project and green lighting production for a 2020 start. Details of the deal include $20 million for Johnson, and an “eight-figure deal” for the writer/director. Thurber previously worked with Johnson on Skyscraper last year, and Central Intelligence in 2016. Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, was attached to co-star with Johnson, and the transferal of production to Netflix brings the news that Ryan Reynolds is joining the crew.
With a budget nearing $130 million, Netflix is all-in, hoping for a “new franchise with global appeal.” What kind of appeal might that be, exactly?
Described as “an international action thriller centered around the pursuit of the most wanted art thief in the world,” featuring a globe-trotting story (and production, no doubt) that will help create a “true global event for the audience.”
Johnson gushed about the Netflix acquisition, saying he “admire[s] the ambition of Netflix to become one of the biggest movie studios in the world,” emphasizing the inclusiveness of streaming and how Netflix subscribers the world-round will be able to watch Red Notice “all at the same moment.” FlynnPictureCo. and Seven Bucks Production will be producing.
With no release date pinned down just yet, there will be a wait to see whether Red Notice pans out well for Netflix. Regardless, it’s a huge deal in an era where streaming seems to be dominating the motion picture landscape more and more each day.