Netflix has slowly but surely making inroads in the original content world, first with drama and comedy series and the likes of Daredevil, and now movies. The company has announced launch dates for several of its films, with Idris Elba and director Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts Of No Nation leading off.
Beasts, which adapts author Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, finds a young man named Agu (Abraham Attah) abducted from his home and pressed into service as a child soldier. Elba is playing the Commandant, a warlord who mentors Agu during his training. Fukunaga also adapted the script, and Netflix plans to release the film via its streaming service on October 16, meaning all customers around the world will see it the same day, which makes a nice change. The company also has US distributor Bleecker Street on hand to release it in American cinemas the same day so it can qualify for awards season.
Following that prestige project will be the first production from Adam Sandler’s four-film deal with the company, farcical Western The Ridiculous Six. With a cast that also includes Terry Crews, Jorge Garcia, Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider, Luke Wilson and Nick Nolte, the movie will hit small screens on December 11, meaning Star Wars: The Force Awakens will have to step up its game if it wants any eyes come December 18 (not sure it’ll have too much trouble).
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel** The Green Legend** is next, though that only has an “early 2016” listing for now, while Paul Reubens is behind Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, which John Lee directed and Judd Apatow has produced. That one will arrive in March next year.