Korean director Bong Joon-ho, responsible for such films as Snowpiercer and The Host (no, not the Stephanie Meyer one), is prepping his latest film Okja. The sci-fi adventure film about a girl who befriends a monster is set to star Jake Gyllenhaal, Tilda Swinton, Kelly Macdonald, Paul Dano and Bill Nighy. It’s now being reported that Joon-ho is receiving backing from Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B and streaming service Netflix. Plan B and Netflix have already collaborated on Pitt’s upcoming military satire War Machine.
Netflix is investing $50 million into Okja, already making it the highest budgeted Korean film, beating Joon-ho’s own Snowpiercer. The streaming service is due to debut in Korea next year, and they will also release Okja theatrically. Plan B’s investment in the project is currently unknown.
The director’s deal with Netflix came directly from this need for a large budget. “It really is a fantastic opportunity for me as a filmmaker“, said Joon-ho. “For ‘Okja’, I needed a bigger budget than I had for ‘Snowpiercer’ and also complete creative freedom. Netflix offered me the two conditions that are difficult to have in hand simultaneously”. Of Pitt’s involvement, the director said, “I am looking forward to bringing in a mix of bold energy that has been unique to Plan B“.
#Peace.Love.Okja
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