Reports confirm that Netflix is “wrapping up” a whopping $30-million dollar deal for the marital two-hander drama, Malcolm & Marie. Headlining this expensive production is Zendaya and John David Washington.
Per Vulture, it looks like Zendaya and Washington’s “secret movie,” which was filmed during the quarantine, turned out to be Malcolm & Marie. Deadline notes that Zendaya has asked Euphoria creator, Sam Levinson, “to write and direct a movie with her during quarantine.”
This film sprung after they were told that the Euphoria series “had to shut down.”
And at some point, you make a choice about who you are and what you want. pic.twitter.com/ROV4CeL9mf
— HBO (@HBO) August 22, 2020
Movie production secretly filmed
The media outlet further reports that Malcolm & Marie was shot “quietly” in Canada while the rest of the world was in lockdown. Nonetheless, the cast and crew worked “in compliance with WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA, and extensive COVID-19 safety protocols.”
The production happened from June 17 until July 2. The set was held at an “environmentally conscious glass architectural marvel” in Carmel, Canada. It was at Feldman Architecture’s Caterpillar House, per the media outlet.
The movie is set in black and white, shot on 35mm film.
The romantic drama MALCOLM & MARIE, starring @Zendaya and John David Washington, is coming to Netflix!
Sam Levinson's lush, witty, achingly beautiful film is shot in black-and-white 35MM with cinematography by Marcell Rév. pic.twitter.com/ui1iYEGvtK
— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) September 13, 2020
The members of the cast and crew are mostly from Euphoria, which made Levinson very thrilled. The 35-year-old actor and filmmaker was happy to have most of his HBO series’ family around for this project.
Deadline quotes him saying:
“[I’m] so grateful to this cast and crew, many of whom are my Euphoria family, for coming together during such uncertain times. We felt privileged to be able to make this film together and we did so with a lot of love. We are all thrilled that it has ended up with Netflix which is unparalleled in allowing filmmakers the freedom to tell their stories that reach audiences all over the world.”
The Malcolm & Marie acquisition
Netflix has reportedly acquired Malcolm & Marie out of a film festival, which turns out to be the Toronto International Film Festival.
The $30-million acquisition is said to be the “largest price ever paid” for movie rights at a film festival. Aside from Netflix, HBO and Amazon were said to be potential buyers of Malcolm & Marie.
Other interested parties were: Searchlight, MGM, Apple, A24, and Focus Features.
The potential buyers were shown a 20-minute promo reel of the movie before Netflix decided to buy it for $30 million.
Netflix Closes $30 Million Deal For ‘Malcolm & Marie’ Off Promo; Sam Levinson Lockdown-Shot Drama Stars Zendaya & John David Washington: Toronto https://t.co/FyQzVZ13C4
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) September 13, 2020
For the movie’s plot, Gamespot quotes the official description of Malcolm & Marie, which reads:
“Washington plays a filmmaker who returns home with his girlfriend (Zendaya) following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love.”
Meanwhile, the Malcolm & Marie cast and crew will share a portion of its $30 million sales with Feeding America.
Featured image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons