Following Netflix’s success over the weekend with Joe Swanberg‘s Win It All, they’ve snapped up another film from an acclaimed independent director. Noah Baumbach‘s next film, The Meyerowitz Stories, has been picked up by the streaming giant.
Netflix reportedly plans to release the film in select cinemas and on their service later this year.
Now, brace yourselves, but the movie stars Adam Sandler. I know, I know, ‘another Netflix Sandler movie’ is what you’re thinking, but this one has hope, I promise. Baumbach has been firing on all cylinders recently with Frances Ha, While We’re Young and Mistress America being among his best work in an already stellar career. This is likely the one semi-serious movie Sandler signs on for every few years.
Still don’t believe me? Well, here’s the rest of the cast: Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel and Grace van Patten. Yeah, this isn’t Sandy Wexler (arriving on Netflix Friday, April 14!).
The Meyerowitz Stories is scheduled to appear at Cannes later this month, and it’ll be interesting to see if Netflix change their release strategy at all. Rival Amazon found huge success with Manchester By The Sea getting a traditional theatrical release, and there’s word that Netflix’s current strategy of release-and-let-people-discover might be losing their films some buzz.
So it’ll be interesting to see how big this ‘select cinemas’ release is and whether the online release co-exists with it or is delayed.
Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, seemed pretty psyched about getting Baumbach’s film on board:
“Noah Baumbach is an important voice in American filmmaking, and his films are always highly anticipated around the world. Noah is among the filmmakers that we were eager to work with, and I know that film enthusiasts everywhere will be as moved by this film as we were. We’re thrilled to be the avenue in which global audiences will be able to see the film”.
So, a pretty good coup for Netflix who are still aiming for consistency within their Original Film department. Not much word on the actual content of the film, but with Baumbach’s track record there’s a high chance it’ll be excellent with a touch of morally bereft characters and awkward humour.
#Peace.Love.Baumbach
