Topher Grace (American Ultra) has joined the Netflix black comedy War Machine, according to Deadline. Grace will play the civilian press advisor to Gen. Stanley McChrystal (Brad Pitt, Fury) in the satire of “The War on Terror.”
The movie is being written and directed by David Michod (The Rover) and is based on the best-selling nonfiction book The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan by Michael Hastings. The film will satirize the handling of the war and those in charge.
Best known for his role on the sitcom That 70’s Show, Grace has slowly rebuilt his career around feature work. He most notably had a supporting role in last year’s Interstellar and will be seen next in the similarly dark action comedy American Ultra, as well as the Dan Rather biopic Truth. Working with Pitt should help him move towards leading-role status. Pitt is also producing the film.
Netflix acquired the film back in June as part of its venture into producing and distributing original films. Their upcoming films, including The Ridiculous 6, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, Beasts of No Nation, and Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday have all been controversial amongst theater owners since the movies will be released either day-and-date with, or close to, their theatrical release. The nation’s largest theater chains, including AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and Carmike have all refused to carry the movie. Netflix has sought out smaller chains as well as independent IMAX and standard-size theaters in order to make their films eligible for Academy Awards, which require some form of theatrical exhibition. The video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was famously shown in theaters in order to be eligible for a short-film nomination.
War Machine is currently expected to be released in 2016, though the project is currently in pre-production, so no specific date has been announced.
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