Netflix has set November awards-qualifying US and UK theatrical releases for Martin Scorsese’s mob drama The Irishman and announced theatrical plans for a packed autumn roster that includes Venice world premieres Marriage Story, The Laundromat, and The King.
The Irishman will open as a platform release in the US starting on Nov. 1 in Los Angeles and New York, and roll out in other US markets as well as the UK on Nov. 8. Further US and international engagements will follow on Nov.15 and Nov. 22 before Netflix launches The Irishman on the platform globally on Nov. 27, with an expanded US and international theatrical release.
That means The Irishman will have roughly one month theatrical exclusivity before launching on the platform on Nov. 27. Netflix did not specify which theatres would show the film. Last week the New York Times reported that talks with AMC and Cineplex were ongoing as the parties try to reach compromise on their very different exclusive theatrical window demands.
The Irishman will open the 57th New York Film Festival on Sept. 27 and Screen understands it could be about three hours long by the time Scorsese, a notorious tinkerer in the editing room, delivers the final cut. Robert De Niro stars in the title role as hitman Frank Sheeran, alongside Al Pacino as Teamsters union boss Jimmy Hoffa. The cast includes Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, and Anna Paquin.
Netflix also revealed on Tuesday (27) the US and UK release dates for its entire slate of autumn films. Screen understands that the Venice trio of Marriage Story, The Laundromat, and The King will open theatrically in Italy before they hit the service. The roster includes The Two Popes, which will be announced as a Telluride world premiere this week, and was previously confirmed to receive its Canadian premiere in Toronto.
- Steven Soderbergh’s The Laundromat starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas will open theatrically in the US and in the UK on Sept. 27, ahead of the platform launch on Oct. 18;
- Craig Brewer’s Toronto world premiere Dolemite is My Name starring Eddie Murphy will open theatrically in the US on Oct. 4 and in the UK on Oct. 11, with the service launch to follow on Oct. 25;
- David Michôd’s The King starring Timothée Chalamet and Joel Edgerton will open in the US and UK on Oct. 11 and launch on the platform on Nov. 1;
- Wash Westmoreland’s Earthquake Bird starring Alicia Vikander will open in the US on Nov. 1, the UK on Nov. 8, and platform on Nov. 15;
- Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will open in the US on Nov. 6, in the UK on Nov. 15, and on the platform on Dec. 6;
- Sergio Pablos’ animated feature Klaus will open in the US and UK on Nov. 8, and on the platform on Nov. 15;
- Cannes Critics’ Week award winner I Lost My Body (J’ai Perdu Mon Corps) will open in the US On Nov. 15, in the UK on Nov. 22, and on the platform on Nov. 29 excluding Benelux, Turkey, and France;
- Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winner Atlantics will open in the US on Nov. 15, in the UK on Nov. 22, and on the platform on Nov. 29 excluding Benelux, Switzerland, Russia, and France; and
- Fernando Meirelles’ The Two Popes starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce will open in the US on Nov. 27, in the UK on Nov. 29, and on the platform on Dec. 20.
At time of writing Netflix sources had not provided information about theatrical roll-out in territories besides the US, the UK, and Italy for the three Venice world premieres.
The release pattern for The Irishman appears to be similar to that used on ROMA, Alfonso Cuarón’s drama on which Netflix reportedly spent more than $60m last season for distribution and awards marketing. That film earned 10 Academy Award nominations including best picture, and won for director, cinematography, and international feature film (formerly best foreign language film).
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