Netflix spends tens of billions of dollars each and every year on film and TV content. Hundreds of projects get made through the streaming service, which is seen by more than 200 million subscribers around the world. Netflix will even spend upwards of $200 million for a new Russo Brothers film starring Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling. But apparently, Netflix draws the line at funding a Mike Leigh feature.
READ MORE: Mike Leigh Explains Working With Amazon Studios & Why Cannes Passed On ‘Peterloo’
According to a recent interview with iNews, Mike Leigh revealed he’s having trouble finding funding for his projects. Yes, the man who has been nominated for seven Oscars and has created films such as “Secrets & Lies,” “Topsy-Turvy,” and “Happy-Go-Lucky,” has trouble finding a studio willing to foot the bill for what would likely be an instant awards contender. And that even includes Netflix, a company that never met a filmmaker it wouldn’t spend money on.
So, why is Mike Leigh having trouble finding funding? Well, you see Leigh is an artist. And as such, he doesn’t like to reveal much about what he is working on until he’s done. So, do you want to know who he is going to cast? Tough luck. Do you want to know the title or plot of the film? Wait your turn. And Netflix, even with its free-spending ways, does have one line it won’t cross.
“I’m finding I’m having problems getting funding,” said Leigh. “People want to know what it is and why it is. Netflix just turned me down, which is a shame, because they have plenty of money. They said they couldn’t possibly contemplate backing it without knowing who the cast is or what it’s about. It’s nonsense because if they made it, people would watch it – because it would be there.”
To put this in perspective, Mike Leigh isn’t a blockbuster filmmaker. His most recent film, “Peterloo,” cost a reported $18 million. Before that, “Mr. Turner,” was approximately $12 million. Netflix (and most other major streamers) wipes its butt with more money than that. Yet, again, the streaming service won’t blindly spend it on Mike Leigh.
Last we saw, Bleecker Street was backing a new film from Leigh, which was announced pre-pandemic. But we haven’t heard anything about that since, so who knows? Surely, someone is out there willing to spend the money on Mike Leigh? Right? Anyone?