Director David Fincher is not renewing his overall pact at Netflix when his current deal expires next year, according to reporting broken by Bloomberg. Fincher, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Fight Club, The Social Network, and Gone Girl, maintains an ongoing creative relationship with the streamer that started with the company’s seminal television series House of Cards and Mindhunter.
Fincher’s Netflix Exit and Future Project Flexibility
While Fincher is leaving his exclusive arrangement behind, he is not signing a new overall deal with another studio. According to Bloomberg’s reporting, this open status leaves open the possibility that Fincher could still work with Netflix on future projects. His exclusive partnership with the platform began in 2020, yielding three feature films: Mank, The Killer, and the upcoming The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
The upcoming film, a spinoff of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood starring Brad Pitt, premieres later this year. In a notable break from standard streaming strategy, Netflix plans to release the Once Upon a Time spinoff in IMAX theaters on Nov. 25, exactly a month before the movie lands on the platform on Dec. 23. Moving forward, Netflix is experimenting with theatrical releases and plans to report box office figures on select titles to attract filmmakers who want their work to screen in movie theaters.
Industry Shifts Away From Netflix Overall Deals
Fincher’s departure follows a broader talent exodus from the streaming service. Marriage Story director Noah Baumbach, who made his last four movies at Netflix, recently signed a deal with Warner Bros. At the same time, Ross and Matt Duffer shifted their Stranger Things partnership to Paramount, while fellow producer Shawn Levy concluded nearly ten years at the platform by securing a television agreement at Disney’s 20th Century.
Sony achieved both critical acclaim and box office success with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, prompting Tom Rothman, the head of the studio’s motion picture group, to share his dissatisfaction with Variety concerning Netflix’s involvement with the follow-up film.
“We were going to make the movie when Quentin was directing it, but he decided that he didn’t want to do it and changed course,” Rothman told Variety. “The only other person that he was comfortable directing his script was David Fincher, and David Fincher was exclusive to Netflix, so we were not going to stand in anybody’s way.” Netflix did not respond to requests for comment regarding the expiration of Fincher’s deal.
Frequently Asked Questions About David Fincher and Netflix
Is David Fincher joining another major studio?
No. Fincher is not signing a new overall deal with another studio after his Netflix agreement expires next year, meaning he remains open to collaborating with various platforms, including Netflix.
What movies did David Fincher make under his exclusive Netflix deal?
During his exclusive partnership that began in 2020, Fincher directed Mank, The Killer, and the upcoming The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
How is Netflix releasing The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth?
In a departure from its usual strategy, Netflix will release the Brad Pitt vehicle in IMAX theaters on Nov. 25 before bringing the movie to the streaming platform on Dec. 23.
Who else has recently left overall deals at Netflix?
Recent departures include filmmaker Noah Baumbach to Warner Bros., producer Shawn Levy to Disney’s 20th Century, and Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer to Paramount.
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