Netflix has made no secret of the fact that it's moving more and more into film distribution, having picked up the likes of Idris Elba's Beasts Of No Nation in 2015 and last year's critically-acclaimed Tallulah with Ellen Page and Allison Janney.
However, most of these have been from either newcomers or indie filmmakers, and not exactly household names as such. That's all set to change as it's been confirmed that Netflix is releasing Martin Scorsese's long-awaited crime epic, The Irishman.
We've been following production for quite some time now, back when it was originally known as I Heard You Paint Houses. The cast list for The Irishman, of course, reads like a who's-who of Scorsese's finest work. Harvey Keitel, Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino are all said to be involved, with DeNiro apparently trying to coax Joe Pesci out of retirement.
This is a huge get for Netflix, as Indiewire reports that Paramount - who was originally set to finance the film - backed away. A source, who spoke to Indiewire anonymously, said that "Scorsese’s movie is a risky deal, and Paramount is not in the position to take risks. This way, he can make the project he wants."
No official release date has been set, however rumours suggest that a 2019 release date is likely with an Oscar campaign and qualifying run in cinemas along the way.
Via Indiewire
