Martin Scorsese
’s new organized crime drama is the subject of a five-way bidding war. The potential new film was reported as a package being shopped to studios, with Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Scorsese regular Leonardo DiCaprio all attached to star. Dubbed a Hawaii-based cross between crime classic Goodfellas and The Departed, the movie will focus on a bloody battle between rival crime syndicates trying to wrestle control of the islands.
Per Puck, that package has triggered a minimum five-way bidding war between Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Warner Bros., and at least one other traditional studio. Even though Netflix is not offering a full theatrical release, it is bidding aggressively, and the report claims Scorsese is expected to prioritize the highest bidder, with the project potentially fetching an offer of $200M+. The project’s marquee stars are also reportedly unlikely to object to a predominantly streaming release.
What This Means For The Success Of Scorsese’s Upcoming Project
Scorsese Hasn’t Been Afraid To Work With Streamers
The bidding war shows the pull Scorsese still has as a director, almost 60 years after he debuted with Who’s That Knocking at My Door?. It also shows the star power of Johnson, Blunt, and DiCaprio, who rank among the biggest actors in the world right now. Having all three together on the same project is highly likely to generate considerable interest and help make the movie a success, however it releases. While many filmmakers put a premium on theatrical releases, the economics of streaming have appealed to Scorsese in the past.
If a streamer ends up bringing the most compelling offer to the table, he likely won’t hesitate to accept.
Cash-rich streamers often pay well for projects from recognizable names, and if that budget comes with creative freedom, it can lead to ambitious films that might never be greenlit in a theatrical setting. Scorsese’s recent career demonstrates that, as he made The Irishman for Netflix and Killers of the Flower Moon for Apple, two expensive movies that rank among his best-reviewed movies. If a streamer ends up bringing the most compelling offer to the table, he likely won’t hesitate to accept.
Our Take On The Scorsese Bidding War
Streaming Seems A Likely Destination & Apple Could Challenge Netflix
Financially, Netflix, Amazon MGM, and Apple all have the upper hand over the traditional studios, and if none of the names attached are streaming-averse, that will matter. This is unlikely to be a repeat of the bidding war for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, which reportedly saw Netflix lose out despite a much higher offer due to their release strategy.
However, Amazon and Apple have both been willing to secure wide theatrical releases for their films in the past. Netflix is likely to be a compelling option, but if those companies field comparable offers with theaters, Scorsese & Co. may ultimately lean in their direction.
Source: Puck
