It’s looking more and more likely that Zach Cregger’s next film, after “Resident Evil,” which he’s currently shooting, might actually be his Aunt Gladys prequel.
“Weapons” was the type of film that breaks out your career in ways unimaginable. Cregger can do whatever he wants at the moment. He has his future in his hands. Hell, he’s getting paid $20M to direct “Resident Evil,” which is usually the type of fee only reserved for the likes of Scorsese, Tarantino and Spielberg.
Cregger’s schedule is unsurprisingly filling up. There’s also his DCU movie “Henchman,” and, more notably, “The Flood,” a sci-fi script he’s already written, attached with Netflix, that he’s hinted at doing next. However, that film might now not get made.
According to The Wrap, Netflix chairman Dan Lin flew to Prague this summer—where Cregger was preparing Sony’s Resident Evil—to persuade him to direct a sci-fi project for the streamer. However, the main point of contention appears to be Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who has reportedly rejected the idea of a theatrical release for The Flood. With Cregger insisting that he wants the film to debut in theaters, the project is now in limbo.
“The real question is whether Netflix backs down or they let Cregger take it out [to a different studio] because Zach remains committed to a theatrical release,” an individual with knowledge of the situation told The Wrap. Plot details are currently being kept under wraps for “The Flood.”
This isn’t the first time Netflix may have lost a filmmaker over its strict no-theatrical policy. Joseph Kosinski turned down the streamer’s offer for “F1” over its lack of a theatrical plan. Greta Gerwig reportedly threatened to walk away from Narnia unless it played in theaters. Emerald Fennell rejected a higher Netflix bid for Wuthering Heights to ensure a proper rollout. The Duffer Brothers left for Paramount for the same reason. And Rian Johnson? He practcally begged—and later fought—for a wide release of ‘Knives Out.’
The bigger question is: how long can Sarandos hold this line? Sure, Netflix’s subscriber numbers are the envy of the industry, but the no-theatrical rule is starting to feel like a hill he’s willing to die on.
Netflix believes theatrical is going obsolete, while more and more top creatives are making it clear they don’t. Something’s gotta give. It’s a pattern, and Cregger is just the latest to say enough is enough. Kudos to him for sticking to his guns.