When you’re Helen Mirren, you just don’t have to give a fuck. And after yesterday’s Warner Bros. panel at CinemaCon, it’s clear that Mirren has exactly zero fucks to give, particularly when you talk about the streaming giant Netflix.
“I love Netflix, but fuck Netflix!” Mirren said during the Warner Bros. presentation of her new film “The Good Liar” at CinemaCon (via Variety).
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Clearly, this is in response to the recent debate amongst Hollywood folk about the future of film distribution. With Netflix’s seemingly endless bank account, and the service’s penchant for spending absurd amounts of money to bring the biggest directors and stars to its streaming home, a line has been drawn in the sand. Either you are with Netflix (and the idea that the future of film distribution is changing and becoming online) or you are against them (and thus enjoy the traditional theatrical film release strategy that studios have implemented for decades).
Mirren seems to be in the latter camp, albeit with her toes slightly in the Netflix side, as well. As she said, she does love Netflix (aka “Hey, I’m still down to work with you guys!”) but she also is a legend that has benefited quite a bit from multiplexes. And while Netflix is the hot new service around town, the industry is still run by the likes of Disney, WB, and Universal, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
As for the film she’s currently promoting, “The Good Liar,” the film follows a conman (played by Ian McKellen) that begins to develop feelings for a lady he met online. It’s like the Hollywood thriller version of “Catfish,” if that’s your thing. The film is set to be released on November 15.
