As the world slowly begins to adapt to the still ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, different industries affected by it are also slowly moving forward with returning to a semblance of normality. Casting announcements for films are restarting, with the latest being the newest Denzel Washington-Julia Roberts collaboration.
Variety reports that the two Academy Award winners have been cast in the latest Netflix film, Leave the World Behind. Based on the upcoming novel by Rumaan Alam, the new project will be a reunion of sorts for Washington and Roberts, who last worked together on the film The Pelican Brief back in 1993.
Aside from starring the film, both Washington and Roberts also have roles behind the camera. Variety says the pair are also acting as producers on the film through Roberts’ Red Om Films. Sam Esmail, who is behind television hits Mr. Robot and Homecoming, is writing and directing the film as well as also executive producing through Esmail Corp.
Deadline reports that the movie adaptation rights underwent a vicious bidding war that involved Apple, MGM, and Netflix, with the streaming giant prevailing. The deal was, reportedly, in the seven figures and supposedly rivals the $120 million deal Apple paid for Emancipation, the new Antoine Fuqua film about slavery that will star Will Smith.
The publication also outlined the “timely” plot of the book that the movie will be based on. Leave the World Behind will tell the story of a white family who comes into conflict with the Black family that moves into the vacation home that they are renting. The Black family also happens to own the vacation home the white family is staying in, and the strange occurrences that happen further bring the two families into conflict.
Leave the World Behind is the latest high profile project to find its way to streaming services first rather than conventional movie theaters. Another buzzed-about project is the latest visual album from music superstar Beyoncé, Black Is King.
Described as the story of a young king who experiences self-identity, betrayal, and love, Black Is King is set to be released on the streaming service Disney+ and just recently released a new trailer featuring Beyoncé, Lupita Nyong'o, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Kelly Rowland, Pharell, Jay-Z, and more.
Disney+ has also inked a distribution deal with athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick. Part of the deal involves Kaepernick developing a documentary series on his journey from being a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers to one of the most prominent civil rights activists in the United States today.