Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix finds itself in dire need of content. As was explained by one of the platform’s executives, the delay in production due to the global pandemic means that the latter half of 2020 could be without major Netflix Originals. So, it’s obvious why Netflix is willing to spend top dollar to land a high-profile film, such as “The Starling.”
According to Deadline, Netflix has spent a hefty chunk of change for the rights to distribute the upcoming film, “The Starling,” which is set to star Melissa McCarthy, Kevin Kline, Chris O’Dowd, and Timothy Olyphant. The report claims that the streaming service spent $20 million on the project, based only on seeing a four-minute sizzle reel and reading the script. The drama is set to be directed by Ted Melfi, based on a script by Matt Harris.
“The Starling” features the story of a married couple (McCarthy and O’Dowd) trying to heal after a tragedy strikes the family. The husband goes off to recovery, while the wife devotes herself to her new garden in her backyard and becomes embroiled in a war with a starling that constantly attacks her. That’s when she comes in contact with a psychiatrist-turned-veterinarian (Kline) that helps her with her bird problem, as well as her grief.
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McCarthy is no stranger to dramatic roles, as of late. She’s famously a two-time Oscar nominee, with her most recent nod coming for her performance in the 2018 film, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” She also appeared in last year’s period crime film, “The Kitchen.” Next up, she has a number of projects on her slate, including “Superintelligence,” as well as the highly-anticipated live-action “Little Mermaid” film at Disney.
As mentioned, the film is directed by Melfi, who is best known for helming the Oscar-nominated film, “Hidden Figures.” Previous to that, he teamed with McCarthy and Bill Murray on the dramedy, “St. Vincent.”
The film has already finished principal photography and is in the middle of post-production. That being said, it’s unclear when Netflix will be able to stream the film, tough an awards-season run isn’t out of the question, especially considering the studio is looking for contenders in a year with a ton of production stoppages that could delay a number of films.
