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David Fincher not renewing Netflix deal, which expires next year

Director David Fincher will not renew his Netflix deal when it expires next year, according to Bloomberg and Deadline. Outlets differ on whether it is a full break or leaves room to work with Netflix again.

4 outlets · 1L · 3C · 0R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Deadline, Variety. Previously: “David Fincher to leave Netflix once his current contract ends, Bloomberg reports”.

Image: /Film
Image: Variety
Image: Deadline

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The story, neutrally told

David Fincher is not renewing his deal at Netflix, which expires next year. Variety says Bloomberg broke the news; Collider and /Film also cite Bloomberg, while Deadline says it confirmed the decision itself. He signed an exclusive deal with Netflix in 2020 and made three films under it: "Mank", "The Killer" and the upcoming "The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth".

His Netflix work began with "House of Cards" in 2013 and also includes "Mindhunter", "Love, Death & Robots" and "Voir". "Cliff Booth", a Quentin Tarantino-written sequel to "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", reaches IMAX theatres in late November and Netflix on 23 December; Deadline and Variety give 25 November, /Film 26 November. Deadline says Fincher did not want to be tied to any particular deal and could work with Netflix again soon; Variety says he is not signing with another studio.

Coverage places the exit among other departures: the Duffer brothers to Paramount, Noah Baumbach to Warner Bros. and Shawn Levy to Disney. Collider links the exit to Netflix shutting down "Squid Game: America" and says a third "Mindhunter" season will not happen. Variety adds that Sony's Tom Rothman said Fincher was the only other director Tarantino was comfortable with for the script and that Fincher was exclusive to Netflix.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Variety presents a straightforward trade report, placing the exit in a run of Netflix talent departures and adding Sony's Tom Rothman on the "Cliff Booth" deal.
Emphasis
The door staying open to future Netflix projects, the Netflix theatrical strategy, and the Sony angle.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not discuss the Squid Game: America shutdown or the Mindhunter season 3 implications.
Charged language
“seminal”
For example
“Fincher isn’t signing a new overall deal with another studio, meaning he could work with Netflix on future projects” — Variety
“In a break from strategy, Netflix is releasing the “Once Upon a Time” spinoff in Imax theaters” — Variety

Centre3 outlets

Framing
Collider and /Film frame it as the end of an era and a lasting break; Deadline reports it as a deal decision that may not be permanent.
Emphasis
Fincher's history with Netflix, the Squid Game: America and Mindhunter fallout (Collider), and the filmography (/Film).
Leaves out or plays down
Collider and /Film do not mention that Fincher could work with Netflix again; Deadline does not cover Sony's role.
Charged language
“End of an Era”“blasted off”“greener pastures”
For example
“Netflix has now lost the creator whose vision helped turn it from a streaming service to an entertainment giant.” — Collider
“He’s not necessarily taking a hike anywhere” — Deadline
“This is the final exit of a filmmaker who has been collaborating with Netflix pretty steadily for the past 13 years.” — /Film

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.