It’s no secret that we here at BTSM are big fans of The Weinstein Company and their films. We were pretty sad to see Carrie, The Artist, and ParaNorman's directors leave the company, but at the same time, we were incredibly happy to see them picked up by Netflix. Now, it seems that our happiness may be short-lived, as Netflix is developing a new film with Hollywood legend Paddy Chayefsky, and it features some of the biggest names in the business. Could this be the end of an era for Netflix and The Weinstein Company? Let’s take a closer look.

The New Paddy Chayefsky Picture

For those of you who may not know, Paddy Chayefsky is one of Hollywood’s most prolific writers. He has written some of the greatest films of all time, including Marty, The Odd Couple, and The African Queen. What’s more, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Network, which also starred Robert Redford. It is highly likely that you have seen or heard of at least one of Chayefsky’s films. It’s safe to say that he is one of the greatest screenwriters of all time. Let’s take a quick look at their new Netflix collaboration.

What Is It About?

The story follows Robert Pattinson, who plays a washed-up Hollywood writer named Neil Simon. Neil is stuck in a rut, and all his friends tell him he should go do something different with his life. Most of Neil’s friends tell him this in person, and then some of them tell him this on a movie screen. Neil is a frustrated writer who has spent the last 30 years trying to make it in Hollywood but always ending up somewhere in between. He’s written a few screenplays that were either badly received or misunderstood, which led to his downfall. Now, he’s living in a hotel trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life.

The plot is pretty straightforward, and we will most likely not see a novel aspect to the story. Still, there are a few interesting elements to it. For example, Neil is basically an alcoholic and a drug addict who is trying to survive on Twix bars and vodka. He has also been through quite a bit of depression. There is a reason that his friends keep telling him that he needs to change his life, because it’s clear that he’s not doing quite well. Plus, Chayefsky has said that he wanted to make a movie about Hollywood’s golden era, which is why he has cast Robert Redford and John Wayne in key roles. We don’t know if Wayne and Redford will be appearing in this particular adaptation, but it’s worth mentioning that both of them have passed away.

Who Is In It?

Apart from the leads, the movie also features an incredible amount of A-list talent. Here is a partial list of some of the people who appear in it:

  • Bradley Cooper
  • Casey Affleck
  • Viola Davis
  • Jackie Chan
  • Debbie Reynolds
  • Carrie Fisher
  • Maureen McCormick
  • Zachary Quinto
  • Andrea Riseborough
  • Vanessa Redgrave
  • Cary Grant
  • Mary Tyler Moore
  • Harvey Keaton
  • Peter O’Toole
  • Kathy Bates
  • Janet Leigh
  • Joanne Woodward
  • Anna Paquin
  • Diane Keaton
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Grace Kelly

Pretty incredible, right? A lot of recognizable and respected faces in one place. It almost seems like a dream come true for Neil. He has been wanting to work with John Wayne for years, and now that opportunity has presented itself. It is quite possible that this will be Wayne and Redford’s final collaboration, as both of them passed away a few years back. Still, even if they don’t end up in the movie, the fact that they have been chosen for these two pivotal roles alone is a testament to Chayefsky’s greatness.

Why Is It Important?

Even if this film is only loosely based on real events, it is still an essential part of Hollywood history. Paddy Chayefsky is one of the greatest screenwriters of all time, and even though this film isn’t going to change that, it’s still worth mentioning. Most of the films that Chayefsky has written have been about Hollywood, which makes this particular project even more intriguing. We know that Netflix is always on the lookout for high-profile projects, and this is definitely a notch up from your usual Netflix offering. This is the kind of movie that could attract viewers from all over the world and turn them into proud Netflix customers. You can bet that almost all of us here at BTSM will be keeping a close eye on this one.