Netflix Scores Brad Pitt’s War Machine

BEVERLY HILLS: The satirical comedy War Machine, which features Brad Pitt in the lead role, will debut as a Netflix original exclusively to members in all territories where the service is available globally and in select theaters next year.

Produced by Netflix and Pitt alongside his Plan B partners Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, and producer Ian Bryce (World War Z, Saving Private Ryan), War Machine brings together Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, World War Z, Moneyball) with David Michôd, an acclaimed Australian writer and director (Animal Kingdom, The Rover). Principal photography is scheduled to begin in August. The movie is inspired by the best-selling book The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan by the late Michael Hastings.

“War Machine is a rip-roaring, behind-the-facade tale of modern war decision-makers, from the corridors of power to the distant regions of America’s ambitions,“ said Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer. “Brad and David are a perfect team to make this timely, compelling and entertaining film.” 

“We are so excited to be a part of the inspiring commitment by Netflix to produce cutting-edge content and to deliver it to a global audience,” said Pitt.

Added Michôd, “I’m humbled to be making a big, bold movie about the whole sprawling, complex, cumbersome and crazy machinery of modern war and the many lives it touches.”

Additionally, Netflix announced an August 7 premiere for its new original series Club de Cuervos, which comes from Mexican filmmaker Gaz Alazraki. Club de Cuervos centers on the battle among members of a wealthy family, triggered by the death of the patriarch, to determine who will gain control of the beloved professional soccer team, The Cuervos of Nuevo Toledo. The series stars Luis Gerardo Mendez and Mariana Trevino, and features Stephanie Cayo, Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Ianis Guerrero and Antonio de la Vega. In addition, Netflix is now starting to offer a more robust selection of Hispanic titles to its U.S. members, ranging from tele-series and novelas, to kids' shows, comedies, documentaries and movies as a result of expanded partnerships with leading broadcasters Univision, UniMas, Telemundo and others.

"Generations have loved shows like El Chavo and we are confident that they will enjoy recent titles like La Dictadura Perfecta as well as the latest addition to our originals slate, Club de Cuervos," said Sarandos. "We're thrilled to be working with Univision and Telemundo as well as a range of amazing Latin American content creators to enrich our Hispanic content mix in the U.S., allowing families to watch some of their favorite shows together when and how they want."