Up until now, Netflix has created original TV series and documentaries. On October 16th, something pretty significant is happening – Netflix is becoming an official destination for original feature films.
The company has just announced the premiere dates of its first four original films.
First up is True Detective alum Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation. Based on the bestselling novel by Uzodinma Iweala. the movie is about a boy who is forced to join a group of soldiers in West Africa. It stars Idris Elba and will hit Netflix on October 16th.
Then, on December 11th, the Adam Sandler vehicle The Ridiculous Six lands. A supposed parody of The Magnificent Seven, it is the first of four original films Adam Sandler will make for Netflix. The two parties struck a deal back in October of 2014. Sandler found himself in some hot water recently with Native American actors, who walked off the set in protest of some less-than-sensitive cultural jokes and stereotypes present in the script.
The film boasts an impressive cast – Blake Shelton, Whitney Cummings, Steve Buscemi, Rob Schneider, Dan Aykroyd, Will Forte, Nick Swardson, Terry Crews, Jon Lovitz, Taylor Lautner, Nick Nolte, Luke Wilson, Steve Zahn, Danny Trejo, Chris Parnell, Lavell Crawford, and Vanilla Ice.
Just announced: Release dates for the first slate of Netflix original films! http://t.co/UaBl5OPkgq
— Netflix US (@netflix) July 7, 2015
Netflix’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, will premiere in the first quarter of 2016. The Green Legend was actually the first feature film Netflix ever announced, and was supposed to premiere on August 28, 2015 – but was pushed back.
Finally, Pee Wee Herman is making his big return in March of 2016. Pee-wee’s Big Holiday involves a “fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger that inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday in this epic story of friendship and destiny.” Judd Apatow is producing.