Streaming giant magnet has acquired global rights to Noah Baumbach’s upcoming comedy The Meyerowitz Stories. The move by Netflix continues their expansion of original programming and commitment to bring top drawer talent to the streaming service. Deadline was the first to report.
The film, written and directed by Baumbach, features an all-star ensemble cast that includes Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Oscar winners Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. The story focuses on an intergenerational comedy centering on group of estranged siblings who gather to the celebrate the work of their aging father, of which comes about much contention. Stiller previously collaborated with Baumbach on Greenberg (2010) and While We’re Young (2015). Elizabeth Marvel (Gifted), Candice Bergen (Rules Don’t Apply) and Grace Van Patten (Stealing Cars) co-star. Baumbach also serves as a producer on the title, along with Scott Rudin, Lila Yacoub and Eli Bush.
With The Meyerowitz Stories, Netflix continues to grow its brand in offering enticing art house titles that once upon a time could have transferred as mainstream theatrical runs. Upcoming movies set to debut on the streaming service include Bong Joon Ho’s Snowpiercer follow-up Okja (starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tilda Swinton and Seo-Hyun Ahn) and David Michôd’s War Machine (starring Brad Pitt). Netflix also took rights to I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (Grand Jury Prize winner at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival) and Dee Rees’ critically acclaimed Sundance entry Mudbound.
As with Mudbound, The Meyerowitz Stories is expected to open in select theaters sometime this year and potentially angle itself in the awards conversation. Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer commented, “Noah Baumbach is an important voice in American filmmaking, and his films are always highly anticipated around the world. Noah is among the filmmakers that we were eager to work with, and I know that film enthusiasts everywhere will be as moved by this film as we were. We’re thrilled to be the avenue in which global audiences will be able to see the film.”
Baumbach made his feature directorial debut with the 1995 indie Kicking and Screaming. Since then, he has helmed admired art-house entries The Squid and the Whale (2005), Margot at the Wedding (2007), Greenberg (2010), Frances Ha (2013), While We’re Young (2015), Mistress America (2015) and the documentary De Palma (2016). He earned an Oscar nomination for scripting The Squid and the Whale. The Meyerowitz Stories is rumored to premiere at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
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