Snagging one of the world's best-known Hollywood stars, Netflix has signed a deal to make four feature films with Adam Sandler as the streaming service continues its empire building and moves into producing original movies that bypass the usual theatrical release.
Sandler's Happy Madison Productions will work alongside Netflix in developing the yet-to-be announced titles, which will premiere exclusively in the nearly 50 countries where Netflix operates. It's a significant move for Sandler, a longtime denizen of the Hollywood studio system -- a system wedded to playing films first in theaters, not in the home. He'll both star in and produce the Netflix projects.
“When these fine people came to me with an offer to make four movies for them, I immediately said yes for one reason and one reason only….Netflix rhymes with Wet Chicks,” Sandler said in a statement. “Let the streaming begin!!!!”
Netflix is prepared to pony up as much as the majors studios do for a Sandler film, which, on average, costs in the $80 million range. Blended, his most recent comedy, was an exception, with a production budget of $40 million. The actor's films, most of them comedies, have grossed more than $3 billion globally. And his films consistently rank among the most viewed by Netflix members, both in the U.S. and overseas.
Netflix is quickly changing the landscape of the studio system.
The streaming site announced Thursday that it has closed a deal with Adam Sandler and his production company, Happy Madison. Four new movies starring Sandler will premiere exclusively in 50 Netflix territories. Notably, there will be no studio middleman facilitating the deal, and the films will bypass a theatrical run.
“When these fine people came to me with an offer to make four movies for them, I immediately said yes for one reason and one reason only.. Netflix rhymes with Wet Chicks,.” said Sandler, in a statement. “Let the streaming begin! »
Not exactly the best pick up to usher in the future....but the guys shit however terrible it may be....is successful, and I like the idea of the old Hollywood studio system dying. When movies cost more to promote than produce...something is broken. So I'm all for any established acts to leave it.
