Amazon and Netflix are waging a real auction war for “Crime 101”, a feature film that will bring together Chris Hemsworth and Pedro Pascal.
Competition is fierce between platforms and distributors of theatrical films, especially when it comes to obtaining the rights to a film with two of the biggest stars of the moment. A huge deal is set to close in the coming days as Netflix and Amazon battle it out fiercely over a feature film that’s upping the ante.
This film at the center of all interests is Crime 101, based on a short story by Don Winslow, the American novelist known among other things for Savages adapted by Oliver Stone. The film would bring together two of the most prominent headliners of the moment, namely Chris Hemsworth and Pedro Pascal. Bart Layton (American Animals) is expected to direct the film.
According to Deadline, the choice fell on Amazon and Netflix to distribute the film. Amazon seems to have the advantage. No deal has been reached so far and, according to sources, the two actors expressed interest in the project before the strike. At this point, it’s technically a rights deal with a UK-based producer. The astronomical figure of 100 million dollars is mentioned to conclude the deal.
Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, and Story Factory’s Shane Salerno, put together the case through their respective production companies. This is a great detective story in the vein of Heat. Fine jewelry thefts are taking place on the Pacific Coast and police have linked these thefts to Colombian cartels. Detective Lou Lubesnick has other lead ideas, and he focuses on a single culprit, a thief looking to pull off the ultimate theft.
The story of Crime 101 is part of a collection of six short novels published under the title The Price of Revenge at HarperCollins and translated into French. Case to follow to find out who will win the final auction!