Netflix has acquired drama 6 Years, from A Teacher director Hannah Fidell, at the South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, sealing this year’s first major deal.
The streaming service reportedly paid in the $1 million range for global rights to the film, which it will premiere in all markets later this year.
American Horror Story actress Taissa Farmiga and Boardwalk Empire alum Ben Rosenfield star in the film as a young couple whose relationship is challenged by job opportunities that send them down different paths. Lindsay Burdge, Joshua Leonard, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Jennifer Lafleur and Peter Vack co-star, while Fidell both helmed and penned the script.
The acquisition isn’t completely out of the blue – Netflix signed a four-picture deal with the Duplass brothers (big names on the festival circuit), who produced 6 Years, at Sundance earlier this year, though this pick-up is not included in that agreement.
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos released an official statement, saying:
“We are thrilled to bring this terrific film 6 Years to audiences at SXSW and Netflix, and to extend our deal with the Duplass Brothers in the process.”
This is just the latest high-profile buy for Netflix, which has been challenging theater chains by picking up buzzy titles and plotting simultaneous theatrical-and-online releases. Earlier this month, it acquired True Detective director Cary Fukunaga’s African war film Beasts of No Nation, outbidding studios for what it considers to be an awards contender. AMC, Cinemark, Regal and Carmike were all quick to kibosh any screenings of the film, which they consider in violation of the long-honored 90-day berth between big and small screen openings.
Netflix also acquired Jamie Dornan-powered siege drama Jadotville for $18 million during the Berlin Film Festival. Additionally, the streaming service has secured four Adam Sandler movies, a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel, a new Pee-Wee Herman movie called Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday, and it made a four-picture deal with the Duplass brothers.
We’ll keep you posted on when Netflix will release 6 Years once they make an announcement.
