Dan Lin, chairman of Netflix's film division, in a new interview for The New York Times spoke about the streaming service's decision to provide Greta Gerwig's film "Chronicles" Narnia"» wide theatrical release, assuring the publication that this move is an "exception" and not a hint at a future distribution strategy.
Lin joined Netflix in April 2024, replacing Scott Stuber, who refocused the streaming service on blockbuster production. Discussing the director's upcoming film «"Barbie"» about Narnia , the head of the film company Netflix said The Times newspaper , which knows about directors and filmmakers who value theatrical releases but with whom the company will not be able to work.
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«"There's a group of filmmakers who still want to release films in theaters," Lin said. "We've come to terms with the fact that we're simply not going to work with them.".
Gerwig's adaptation of the fantasy novel was originally scheduled to open in IMAX theaters on Thanksgiving and on Netflix on Christmas Day. However, in May, the streaming service announced the film would be released on February 12, 2027, and then on Netflix on April 2, 2027, becoming the first film to receive a traditional theatrical release.
Netflix's theatrical distribution strategy, or rather lack thereof, became a major point of contention during the streaming service's bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Before the streaming giant dropped out of the acquisition race, leaving Paramount the winner, co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced that Warner Bros. films would be released in theaters for the standard 45 days.
Meanwhile, the Cliff Booth film, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, is based on Brad Pitt's stuntman character in the film« Once Upon a Time in Hollywood» , will not be shown in cinemas for long. «"The Adventures of Cliff Booth"» (working title) will be shown in IMAX for two weeks worldwide starting November 25th, and then on Netflix on December 23rd.
Under his leadership, as also noted The Times newspaper , Lin wants Netflix to "spend less money on fewer, higher-quality films." In the article, Lin also said he would like the streaming service to develop more comedies, romantic comedies, and book adaptations, with the film «People We Meet on Vacation» .
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