So, the Duffers’ Paramount deal is official. After nearly a decade at Netflix, where they built “Stranger Things” into a global phenomenon, they’ve finally packed their bags.
The reason? Matt Belloni reports the “dealbreaker” was Netflix’s hardline stance against theatrical. And they’re not alone in walking away because of it.
Greta Gerwig threatened to walk off ‘Narnia’ unless it played theaters. Emerald Fennell rejected a richer Netflix bid for “Wuthering Heights” to preserve a proper rollout. And Rian Johnson? He practically begged, and then heatedly fought, for a wide release of “Glass Onion,” only to be given a glorified one-week showcase before Netflix slammed the door. He’s leaving the streamee as well.
The bigger question is: how long can Netflix CEO Ted 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.
At the TIME100 Summit, when pressed about whether Netflix has contributed to Hollywood’s current struggles—shrinking windows, box office erosion, runaway productions—Sarandos shrugged it off: “No, we’re actually saving Hollywood.”
While he claims to personally appreciate cinemas, his larger view was blunt: theatrical is an “outmoded idea” for most people. Not for everybody, but for most.
That’s the crux of it. 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 the Duffers are just the latest to say enough is enough. Kudos to them for sticking to their guns.
Marvel's "Ghost Rider" just hired one of the best cinematographers working today. Linus Sandgren will serve as DP on Shawn Levy's MCU flick, and, most notably, the project will be shot on film.