We have some interesting exclusive context to this story, but let’s get on with the basics first. Way back when in 2019, it was reported that David Fincher and Oscar-winning “Chinatown” screenwriting legend Robert Towne were developing a “Chinatown” prequel series for Netflix, given the filmmaker’s exclusive deal there.

And there’s barely been a word about it since (though it was a story we were chasing circa 2021, but plans changed).

Continue reading Robert Towne Says David Fincher’s ‘Chinatown’ Prequel Series Is Written & Ready To Go (But Pssst, He Pivoted To ‘Squid Game’) at The Playlist.

What’s Aaron Sorkin‘s next project? THR reports it may be a sequel to “The Social Network.”  The legendary screenwriter turned actor talked about a script he’s toying with on a new live edition of “The Town” podcast this week. And Sorkin plans to tackle Facebook’s dark legacy since he wrote the script for David Fincher‘s 2010 smash hit, namely the social media company’s influence on American politics.

Continue reading Aaron Sorkin Teases His ‘The Social Network’ Sequel Script: “I Blame Facebook For January 6” at The Playlist.

“Dune” filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has a lot of options for what he could make next, and one of them could be his long-gestating “Cleopatra” movie based on the Stacy Schiff novel “Cleopatra: A Life” for Sony Pictures (he has a couple of options, one of them being a third “Dune” movie too).

Before that, however, some may remember the era when filmmaker David Fincher had a version of the movie set up at Paramount, circa 2012, that would have starred Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie  (long before the competing Gal Gadot incarnation with Patty Jenkins and Kari Skogland).

Continue reading Brian Helgeland Shares Details On David Fincher’s Unmade ‘Cleopatra’ Film Almost Starring Angelina Jolie at The Playlist.

At this point in his career, David Fincher is a Mount Rushmore figurehead of contemporary American cinema for a lot of moviegoers. But that wasn’t always the case. Flashback to the early ’90s, when Fincher, in his mid-20s and primarily a director of commercials, was tapped by 20th Century Fox to helm the much-anticipated sequel “Alien 3.”  The result was disastrous: a $60 million budget blockbuster with a troubled production that scored low with critics and failed to live up to anyone’s lofty expectations.

Continue reading ‘Se7en’: David Fincher Talks The Thorny Shoot Of His Sophomore Feature: ‘Oh, My God, This Is That Problem Child From The ‘Alien’ Movies?’ at The Playlist.

It’s been quite a while since there has been significant discussion about a Netflix film appearing at Cannes. The reason being that Cannes’ rules claim that a film that plays in competition at the event has to have a theatrical rollout in France. However, due to French law, a film that has a theatrical release can’t be seen on a streaming service for more than a year. That means, if Netflix wanted to debut David Fincher’s “The Killer” at last year’s Cannes, the film would still not be seen on the streaming service in France.

Continue reading Cannes’ Director Says David Fincher “Doesn’t Exist At The Same Level” Because He Makes Films For Netflix at The Playlist.

The relationship between David Fincher and Netflix is one that intrigues (and sometimes frustrates) film fans. It’s wonderful that Fincher is able to work with Netflix and seemingly make whatever films he wants. But also, for some people, the fact that he’s working with Netflix means he’s not making “cinema” anymore, if you follow Martin Scorsese’s most strict definition of the term. But Fincher is the first to defend his reasons for sticking with Netflix, and apparently, he’s ready to keep the relationship going for another few years. 

Continue reading David Fincher Extends Deal With Netflix & Says Streamer Allows Him To Take “Risks” at The Playlist.

Holt McCallany is enjoying a career renaissance right now thanks to “The Iron Claw,” but let’s not pretend this hasn’t been going on for a while now. McCallany’s recognition is well-deserved, with top-notch performances over the past decade in “Blackhat,” “Nightmare Alley,” and “Wrath Of Man,” among others. But his most memorable and accalimed role may be in David Fincher‘s shortlived but much beloved Netflix series “Mindhunter” as FBI agent Bill Tench.

Continue reading Holt McCallany Remains “Hopeful” For Another Season Of ‘Mindhunter’: “If It Comes Back, I’m Coming Back With It” at The Playlist.

For all the people that love working with David Fincher (and just looking at the caliber of actors he puts in his films proves the filmmaker is beloved), there’s still this underlying thing when they discuss the production of the film where they seemingly are walking a bit on eggshells. It doesn’t feel as if they’re concerned about upsetting Fincher, but instead, they can’t help but discuss just how difficult it is to work within his framework.

Continue reading ‘Zodiac’: Robert Downey, Jr. “Developed A New Respect” For David Fincher’s “Exacting” Nature After Working On ‘Oppenheimer’ at The Playlist.

Earlier this week, at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Netflix held a special AMPAS Screening of “The Killer” followed by a Q&A with the film’s director David Fincher,  the movie’s star Michael Fassbender, moderated by filmmaker Rian Johnson (“Looper”). And now, that whole conversation has made its way online.

In case you’re unaware, “The Killer” is Fincher’s latest film, an assassin thriller about the process.

Continue reading ‘The Killer’: David Fincher Talks Making “A Lean & Mean Don Siegel” Thriller In New 45 Min Q&A With Michael Fassbender & Rian Johnson at The Playlist.

This may ruffle some feathers: speaking to Le Monde about his latest film “The Killer,” David Fincher made some semi-controversial remarks regarding the state of the filmmaking industry. His take?  Netflix, the streamer that’s produced his last two films, is the best place in Hollywood to make movies right now. What’s more, cinematic culture needs to accept that the home distribution service offers “optimal representation” for films over the movie theater experience.

Continue reading David Fincher Says “Netflix Has By Far The Best ‘Quality Control’ In Hollywood” & Streaming Is The Future Of Cinema Culture at The Playlist.

Though many might consider David Fincher an auteur filmmaker who is probably above making superhero films, that wasn’t always the case. Early in his career, after the success of “Se7en,” it appears Fincher was brought in by Sony to pitch the studio about what his version of “Spider-Man” might look like. And no, it’s not at all like the film Sam Raimi would eventually give audiences.

Continue reading David Fincher Once Pitched A ‘Spider-Man’ Film That Ditched The “Dumb” Origin Story at The Playlist.

If you’re a fan of David Fincher, you know the filmmaker has flirted with the idea of sequels in the past. Most notably, the director was long attached to a sequel to the hit horror film, “World War Z.” However, in recent years, there has been quite a bit of chatter about a sequel to his award-winning 2010 film, “The Social Network.” Obviously, there’s plenty of new developments in the social media world to warrant another film, but in addition, writer Aaron Sorkin has even teased the possibility of it happening.

Continue reading David Fincher Has Talked To Aaron Sorkin About ‘The Social Network’ Sequel But Calls It “A Can Of Worms” at The Playlist.

With “The Killer,” David Fincher finds himself in familiar territory: working again with “Se7en” scribe Andrew Kevin Walker on a lean, mean adaptation of a pulpy crime plot. And how well Fincher excels in fare like that–whether it’s stuff like “Panic Room” or his take on airport reads like “Gone Girl“–is why he’s one of his generation’s most beloved filmmakers.

Continue reading David Fincher Hasn’t Watched ‘Fight Club’ In 20 Years & Doesn’t Get The Incel Love For It: “I’m Not Responsible For How People Interpret Things” at The Playlist.

Netflix has a bunch of anticipated films left on their 2023 release calendar, but maybe none more so than David Fincher‘s “The Killer.” And the director’s follow-up to 2020’s “Mank” sees him in familiar territory: adapting a hardboiled thriller in a way only he can.

READ MORE: David Fincher On Why He Chose To Use The Smiths In ‘The Killer’: “I Thought It Was Amusing And Funny”

Fincher reunites with “Se7en” scribe Andrew Kevin Walker for his latest feature, about an assassin who gets caught in an international manhunt after a hit goes wrong.  Michael Fassbender stars.

Continue reading ‘The Killer’ Trailer: David Fincher’s Hitman Flick With Michael Fassbender Hits Select Theaters Today, Netflix On November 10 at The Playlist.

Once upon a time, David Fincher‘s follow-up to 2014’s “Gone Girl” would have been a sequel to the 2013 blockbuster “World War Z.” But Fincher’s entry into blockbuster filmmaking never happened, with Paramount eventually scrapping the project by 2019. But what did one of Hollywood’s most distinct visual stylists have in mind for the sequel? Deadline reports (via GQ UK) that Fincher described his take as similar to a hit HBO series with a similar backdrop.

Continue reading David Fincher Is “Glad” He Didn’t Do ‘World War Z’ Sequel Because “‘The Last Of Us’ Has A Lot More Real Estate To Explore The Same Stuff” at The Playlist.

David Fincher has a strong relationship with The New York Film Festival; he made the world premiere debuts of “The Social Network” (2010) and “Gone Girl” (2014). “Mindhunter” screened at the 2017 edition, and if the filmmaker has a new film in the wings, it’s generally in the wings for an NYFF discussion, at least. So while it made its world premiere in Venice already (read our review), today Film at Lincoln Center announces Fincher’s latest film, “The Killer,” starring Michael Fassbender, would join the Spotlight selection of the 61st New York Film Festival—making it the film’s North American premiere— screening on October 14 at 7pm at the Paris Theater and October 15 at 8:45pm at the Walter Reade Theater.

Continue reading ‘The Killer’: NYFF 2023 Adds David Fincher’s Michael Fassbender-Starring Hit Man Movie To Spotlight Section at The Playlist.

It surprised no one earlier this year when Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross officially came on board to score David Fincher‘s “The Killer.” After all, the pair have scored all of Fincher’s films since 2010’s “The Social Network.” But it surprised audiences at the movie’s world premiere in Venice last weekend when Reznor & Ross’ work didn’t feature prominently in “The Killer” at all.

Continue reading David Fincher On Why He Chose To Use The Smiths In ‘The Killer’: “I Thought It Was Amusing And Funny” at The Playlist.

David Fincher and Boots Riley are both very good filmmakers. In terms of Fincher, some put him up there as one of the best working today. But make no mistake, these are two very different storytellers, in nearly every way. And it’s clear, based on Riley’s social media posts this weekend, there are some philosophical differences between the two, especially when it comes to the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes.

Continue reading Boots Riley Criticizes David Fincher’s “Distorted Worldview” & Disagrees With His “Confused Take” On The WGA Strike at The Playlist.

The question of whether or not technology has killed the classic crime thriller has popped in and out of the discourse as the years saw pocket watches morph into sci-fi-looking gadgets capable of getting one both dinner and a first-class ticket to Dubai in the space of a couple of minutes. Directors who have solidified their careers through portrayals of mafiosos, gangsters, and assassins held tightly to the period film as a chance to continue working with the story beats that work so well within the genre, recreating CCTV-free alleyways and public phone booths to allow their scoundrels and scumbags to wreak havoc in overpopulated mazes around the world. 

Continue reading ‘The Killer’ Review: David Fincher’s Homage To The Classic Crime Thriller With Michael Fassbender Is Entertaining But Orthodox [Venice] at The Playlist.

Happy belated birthday to filmmaker David Fincher (“Fight Club,” “Seven,”), who turned 61 yesterday, and today unveils the trailer for his most anticipated new movie, “The Killer.” An assassin thriller about a job gone wrong, the movie has been mostly shrouded in mystery for months, but we know it stars Michael Fassbender, an actor Fincher had been keen on working with for years.

Continue reading ‘The Killer’ Trailer: Michael Fassbender Is David Fincher’s Deadliest New Weapon In Upcoming Assassin Thriller at The Playlist.

With the writers and actors on strike, well, who the hell knows what’s going on? You may not hear from any actors, writers or hell, even directors who are not doing press in solidarity. So, in a bid to still continue making things interesting for you and for us, we’re reintroducing an old Flashback Friday or Throwback Thursday feature and just calling it “Flashback”: a fun excuse to highlight old interviews, old stories, classic movie stories and more.

Continue reading Marc Maron Told Jodie Foster That David Fincher Scrapped An Entire 2.5 Hour Podcast [Flashback] at The Playlist.

Upon its release in 2014, there was a ton of acclaim thrown at the feet of David Fincher’s twisty thriller, “Gone Girl.” While a ton of recognition, including an Oscar nomination, was given to Rosamund Pike’s lead performance, there were many who saw Ben Affleck as one of the best parts of the film, playing the husband on the search for his missing wife. But, as famous and talented as Affleck is, he wasn’t the first choice for the co-lead of the Fincher film.

Continue reading Jon Hamm Couldn’t Star In ‘Gone Girl’ Due To ‘Mad Men’ Commitment But Fincher Film Role Was “Meant To Be Me” at The Playlist.

David Fincher isn’t a perfect filmmaker. Sure, he’s one of the best working today, but his films aren’t always instantly beloved. His 2007 crime drama, “Zodiac,” is one of those films. At the time of its release, there were definitely fans, but there were also those who didn’t necessarily get it. Is it a true crime story about the Zodiac? Is it a family drama about the impact this investigation had on specific people?

Continue reading David Fincher Defends ‘Zodiac’ Against Folks Who Wanted More Investigation: “That’s The Book We Bought” at The Playlist.

While it doesn’t hold the same place in film history as “The Social Network,” which is thought to be one of the best films of the past 20 years, there are still folks who praise David Fincher’s work on “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” However, it would be silly to suggest that the film was a runaway success, as it is seen by many as a misfire in the incredible career of Fincher.

Continue reading David Fincher Is Proud Of ‘Dragon Tattoo’ But Admits The Film Is “A Swing & A Miss” at The Playlist.

The 2023 edition of the Tribeca Film Festival closed out last night with a conversation between two of the best filmmakers of their generation, David Fincher and Steven Soderbergh. The Q&A covered all sorts of topics, but Fincher dropped an intriguing nugget in the midst of it. IndieWire reports that Fincher revealed he’s working on a 4K remaster of his 1995 film “Seven.”

READ MORE: Netflix: David Fincher’s ‘The Killer’ Arrives November 10 & 2 Wes Anderson Films Are Coming In 2023

That news should surprise Fincher fans, as the director dislikes revisiting his older work.

Continue reading David Fincher Says He’s Working On A 4K Remaster Of ‘Seven,’ But He’s “Fundamentally Against The Idea Of Changing” His Old Films at The Playlist.