It's never easy to predict what David Fincher is going to do next, or even—as the gaps between his films might suggest—when the heck he's even going to do it. But a new development in the filmmaker's career has made that guessing game a bit easier. Talking to French magazine Premiere [via The Playlist], Fincher revealed he has signed an exclusive deal with Netflix for the next four years.
Here's what Fincher said:
Image via Sony Pictures
“Yes, I have an exclusivity deal with [Netflix] for another four years...And depending on ‘Mank’s’ reception, I’ll either go see them sheepishly asking them what I can do to redeem myself or take the attitude of the arrogant asshole who’ll require making other films in black and white. [Laughs] No, I’m here to deliver them ‘content’ — whatever it means— likely to bring them spectators, in my small sphere of influence.”
Fincher already has a deep relationship with the streaming service, having directed the first two episodes of House of Cards, developed the animated anthology Love, Death & Robots with Tim Miller, and developed/directed/EP'd the serial killer drama, Mindhunter. His latest feature, the black-and-white true Hollywood tale Mank, makes its Netflix debut on December 4.
But still, it'll be interesting to see what Fincher does under the deal. Netflix's recent big-name signings—namely, Shonda Rhimes, Ryan Murphy, and the Game of Thrones creative duo—have amounted to huge checks and free reign. (Not to mention Martin Scorsese, who isn't under a deal, but did make his massive, four-hour epic The Irishman thanks to Netflix.) Fincher with creative control and a ballooned budget is going to be...something, for sure.
Here's what he had to say:
Image via Netflix
“Now [because] I signed this Netflix deal it’s also because I’d like to work like Picasso painted, to try very different things, to try to break the shape or change the operating mode. I like the idea of having a body of work. And yes, I admit that it feels strange, after forty years in this profession, to only have ten films under my belt. Well, eleven, but ten that I can say are mine. Yes, objectively, it is a pretty terrifying observation.”
