In a statement, Bong said that “For Okja, I needed a bigger budget than I had for Snowpiercer and also complete creative freedom”.
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It’s the latest salvo in Netflix’s attempt to revolutionize the film distribution business the way the company has done with television.
Netflix will invest $50 million in upcoming South Korean film Okja by Bong Joon Ho, local production company Okja SPC announced on Tuesday. “Netflix has provided me with both, which is an unbelievable opportunity for a director”.
I’m still not sure I understand just how deep Netflix’s pockets are at this point, or how they count something as a win or a loss. While early descriptions called this a monster movie, Bong says it’s different than what viewers might expect.
According to The Wrap, Okja centers around the relationship between a “monster who has a kind spirit” and who shares a name with the title, and a young girl, who has not yet been cast. “To me, the insane world surrounding Okja and the girl looks more like a monster”.
If the last decade has taught us anything, it’s not to underestimated Netflix, the online instant streaming service that nearly singlehandedly destroyed the brick-and-mortar movie rental industry, changed the way audiences consumed motion pictures altogether, and eventually started producing award-winning TV shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. “I want to depict the two characters’ freakish journey and adventure across the tough world in an original fashion”.
The film is one of the first feature movies in Asia to be backed by Netflix, which is in the process of rolling out services across the vast region.
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Kevin Winter/Getty Images Brad Pitt is teaming up with Netflix to product, ‘Okja, ‘ starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The film is expected to see the light of day in the first half of 2017.
