Netflix Closes $30 Million Deal for Zendaya & John David Washington Film ‘Malcolm & Marie’

Netflix has acquired the worldwide rights to Sam Levinson’s lockdown-shot film, Malcolm & Marie. It is the first post-pandemic film to complete production

“I am so grateful to this cast and crew … for coming together during such uncertain times,” director, writer and producer Levinson said. “We felt privileged to be able to make this film together and we did so with a lot of love. We are all thrilled that it has ended up with Netflix which is unparalleled in allowing filmmakers the freedom to tell their stories that reach audiences all over the world.”

The romantic drama stars John David Washington as filmmaker and Zendaya as his girlfriend. The film follows them as they return home from a movie premier. The plot is said to be similar to the 2019 film Marriage Story, which was about married couple going through a divorce. The idea for the film came after Zendaya worked with Levinson on his HBO series, Euphoria.

“I’d been talking to Sam often during the quarantine,” Zendaya said. “Sometimes he’d just call to shoot the shit and chat about life. And eventually I said to him, ‘I need to do something creative.’ So we bounced ideas back and forth, and then he started writing.”

Malcolm and Marie was filmed from June 17-July 2 and was compliant with WGA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, and extensive COVID-19 safety protocols. The film currently has no set release date.

Joseph Stanger: I’m a senior at Central Washington University majoring in Digital Journalism with a minor in Cinema Studies. I have a deep interest in the ethics and impact of journalism, I pay way too much attention to current events and I've seen far too many movies. I also enjoy video games, biking, and spending time with my pet rabbit Agnes.
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