Netflix is making a film based on the ongoingGameStopstock drama. Surprisingly, they’re far from the first film studio to want to adapt this story. The whole thing started with tech-savvy Redditors causing price increases instocks such as GameStopand AMC. It ballooned out of control within days, drawing hedge funds, stock trading apps, and even U.S. politicians into its web.
On Sunday, MGM secured the rights toThe Antisocial Network, Ben Mezrich’s as-yet-unwritten novel about the situation. Considering his prior work, Mezrich definitely has the ability to cover a tech-related story such as this one. He’s famous for his non-fiction novelThe Accidental Billionaires, which became the filmThe Social Network.
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But just because MGM has some star power doesn’t mean Netflix’s film suffers from a shortage of talent. They’ve selected famed screenwriter Mark Boal to pen their take on the GameStop story. Boal spent two weeks embedded in an American bomb squad in 2004 to write the Oscar-winning dramaThe Hurt Locker. He then wrote the 2012 filmZero Dark Thirty, which follows the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden. Both of these films dealt with then-current events, which makes covering thestill-growing GameStop sagaa perfect fit for Boal.
Author Scott Galloway, host of the popularPivotpodcast, is in talks to consult on the script. Noah Centineo, who had a main role in Netflix’sTo All The Boystrilogy, will star in the film. Though Centineo’s still a bit of a mixed bag in terms of talent, he’s definitely starting to make his mark. Aside from his upcoming Netflix work, he’s also appearing in DC’sBlack Adammovie.
The court of public opinion will be a major factor in how critics react to Netflix’s GameStop film. Ifnew revelations arise mid-production, it could throw the entire project off-balance. And even if they gets the facts right, there’s still the issue of how the film will treat the situation itself.
Movies based on true events (such as, recently, those based on the COVID-19 pandemic) have to walk a fine line. With Boal taking the lead, fans of his work can at least hope for the best. But, ultimately, nobody outside of Netflix knows what direction the project is going. Much like with the real-life situation, we’ll just have towait and see how it turns out.
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