The filmmakers behind upcoming action film production, Red Notice, have landed the project a new home at Netflix according to a Deadline exclusive on Monday. Universal Pictures originally acquired the film in an intense bidding war late last year before dating it for release next November.
Production reportedly sensed hesitation and saw a window ten days ago whereupon they introduced the film’s finished script to the streamer. According to Mike Fleming Jr., Netflix affirmed its commitment to the production in multiple aspects, from up-front salaries and backend, to a budget of up to $130 million dollars.
Red Notice signals the streamer’s biggest star package to date with a cast that reteams Dwayne Johnson with director Rawson Marshall Thurber following Central Intelligence and Skyscraper. Joining the cast are Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot with a script by Thurber – billed as international action thriller that spans a globetrotting pursuit of the most wanted art thief in the world.
Beau Flynn will also produce at FlynnPictureCo next to Johnson at Seven Bucks Productions with Dany and Hiram Garcia. Scott Sheldon is executive producing.
“With Red Notice, our goal at Seven Bucks Productions was to break down traditional barriers and create a true global event for the audience. Netflix has illustrated that they are the perfect partners to accomplish this goal.
“I admire the ambition of Netflix to become one of the biggest movie studios in the world,” Johnson said. “Their original content generates critical acclaim and invites full collaboration on every level of production. Their unbridled enthusiasm for Red Notice is equally matched by their commitment to entertaining audiences on an international scale.
“As the landscape of movies, distribution and audience consumption continues to evolve, our Seven Bucks focus is to continue to find the best platform and partners to thrive in this ever changing environment. Director/writer Rawson Thurber has delivered a dynamic script that me and my co-stars and partners-in-heist, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds, can’t wait to shoot.
“The fun we’re gonna have making Red Notice, but more importantly – the fun the worldwide audience will have watching it in 190+ countries – all at the same moment.”
Thurber said he was “beyond thrilled to be making Red Notice with Scott Stuber and Netflix, a company that believes in filmmakers and big ideas for a global audience.”
Netflix’s Stuber said: “Rawson wrote a spectacular globetrotting action-adventure film. We can’t wait to bring this story and this Dream Team of movie stars, Dwayne, Ryan and Gal, to audiences around the world.”
Johnson opens with Jason Statham in August for Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw while Reynolds remains in tow with Michael Bay’s Six Underground, also at Netflix. Gadot re-emerges in theaters on June 5 in Wonder Woman 1984.