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Landmark Deal: Netflix Outbids HBO, AMC for Original Series Starring Kevin Spacey, To Be Directed by David Fincher, Who Was Recently Nominated for an Oscar for Directing ‘The Social Network’

Mar 16, 2011  •  Post A Comment

Netflix has outbid several networks, including HBO and AMC for a new original series to star Kevin Spacey and to be directed by David Fincher, according to our friend Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

Andreeva writes, "Negotiations are still going on, but I hear Netflix landed the drama project by offering a staggering commitment of two seasons, or 26 episodes. Given that the price tag for a high-end drama is in the $4 million-$6 million an episode range and that a launch of a big original series commands tens of millions of dollars for promotion, the deal is believed to be worth more than $100 million and could change the way people consume TV shows."

She adds, "Netflix has been looking to diversify beyond movies. The day Amazon.com announced its entry into the online video space, Netflix unveiled a $200 million deal with CBS for two years for nonexclusive rights to stream such shows as The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Family Ties, Twin Peaks, Cheers and Frasier. Adding original series to the portfolio seemed like a natural next step."

The article also explains, "In his TV directorial debut, Fincher will helm the pilot for ‘House of Cards,’ which is based on the book and British miniseries of the same name. Fincher is executive producing with Eric Roth, Joshua Donen as well as Spacey and his producing partner at Trigger Street Prods. Dana Brunetti. The political-thriller novel ‘House of Cards,’ written by Michael Dobbs, a former Conservative Party chief of staff, is set at the end of Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as prime minister and follows a British politician with his eye on the top job. In 1990, it was adapted by the BBC as a miniseries written by Andrew Davies and starring Ian Richardson. Fincher’s adaptation, set in the U.S., was written by playwright-screenwriter Beau Willimon (The Ides of March)."

Fincher is also the director of the cult favorite "The Fight Club."

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