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[GK86]

Link. Didn't see a thread.

Netflix will premiere war thriller “Jadotville,” starring Jamie Dornan (“Fifty Shades of Grey”), across all its territories in 2016.

The film is slated to go into production in April, shooting in Ireland and South Africa. The project was brought to the European Film Market at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival by Alex Walton’s Bloom; the deal with Netflix was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group.

Netflix acquired all rights to “Jadotville” and will debut the film on its Internet subscription VOD services. In addition, the company may also release the film theatrically for a qualifying run.

“Jadotville” tells the true story of the 1961 siege of a 150-member Irish U.N. battalion under Commander Patrick Quinlan (Dornan) by 3,000 Congolese troops, led by French and Belgian mercenaries working for mining companies. Film also stars Guillaume Canet (“Tell No One”) as the French commander who sought to defeat Quinlan and his men.

Netflix announced the pact for the Dornan-toplined film after erotic drama “Fifty Shades” pulled down a record $94.4 million over the four-day President’s Day weekend at the U.S. box office. Dornan is repped by UTA and United Agents.

“Jadotville” is directed by Richie Smyth, a commercial and music-video director (U2, Bon Jovi, The Verve) and written by Kevin Brodbin (“Constantine”). Alan Moloney will produce for Parallel Films (“Haywire,” “Albert Nobbs,” “Byzantium”).

“The story of how Pat Quinlan led his troops against an overwhelming force without losing a single man is one of the great stories of the 20th century, and we are proud to be working with such a talented and committed team to bring it to life,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said. “This film will be an amazing addition to our global original films initiative.”

Added Moloney, “As filmmakers, we are constantly looking for new ways to bring a movie to the largest possible audience. Netflix has already reinvented the TV market and is now moving front and center into the film business.”

Netflix’s other movie projects include a deal with Adam Sandler for four films and an agreement with Weinstein Co. and Imax to debut the sequel to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” simultaneously in theaters and on Netflix in August 2015. In addition, Netflix last month reached a deal with indie filmmakers and thesps Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass to produce four movies, which will have a brief theatrical release before becoming available exclusively on Netflix.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

How many shows do they have?! They seem to be out producing HBO.

 

[x-Lundz-x]

Awesome, he was/is amazing in The Fall.

 

[GK86]

How many shows do they have?! They seem to be out producing HBO.

This is a movie. And they have a lot of shows in the pipeline.

 

[Herne]

The Siege of Jadotville is a great story, and I'm glad it's getting some attention. The one thing I can ask them is to please, please don't have them attempt the accents.

 

[Desmond]

If the accents are a worry, just completely irish it up. Get Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy, Fassbender, and Diarmuid Gleeson on board. Shoehorn a role for Saoirse too.

 

[Akahige]

The guy has been bad in everything I've seen, I doubt this will be any different.

 

[Eidan]

The guy has been bad in everything I've seen, I doubt this will be any different.

Hm, I thought he was great in The Fall.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Sounds cool! I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Dan]

Could be good, but I'm wary of that director/writer combo.

 

[Funky Papa]

Oh wow, I'm SO IN for anything touching the mess that was the post-decolonisation of Africa. More about the event @ Wikipedia.

On September 13, 1961, Dag Hammarskjöld's United Nations forces launched the offensive, Operation Morthor, against the State of Katanga which had seceded from Congo-Léopoldville in July 1960. According to its mandate, the UN force in the Congo was intended to remain strictly impartial and not take sides in the conflict. However, the Katangese felt that the UN had taken the side of the Congolese central government. Soon after the start of Morthor, the Katangese attacked the base of UN forces at Jadotville.[7] The contingent of Irish UN troops was sent to protect the Belgian settlers and local population in Jadotville, where they were attacked by those they were originally sent to protect.

I'd kill for a film or series about Operation Dragon Rouge, but there's no way they could make it work without making it look racist as all fuck.

 

[Mr.Swag]

YES OC

 

[Funky Papa]

People are going to flip shit when they realize that there was a time when the UN had teeth and didn't give any fucks about baring them when needed.

 

[Oriel]

I've always felt the Siege of Jadotville (and the wider Congo Crisis) was something that needed the Hollywood treatment. Unfortunately it's a subject nobody really knows about, even here in Ireland where veterans of the Congo War have never been probably commemorated.

 

[Oriel]

The Siege of Jadotville is a great story, and I'm glad it's getting some attention. The one thing I can ask them is to please, please don't have them attempt the accents.

If they have actual Irish actors then it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Doctor Decimate]

Don't have much confidence based on the writer and director

 

[Funky Papa]

I've always felt the Siege of Jadotville (and the wider Congo Crisis) was something that needed the Hollywood treatment. Unfortunately it's a subject nobody really knows about, even here in Ireland where veterans of the Congo War have never been probably commemorated.

Dark of the Sun was a totally schlocky but highly enjoyable action film set during the Congo Crisis that still stands quite well if you can get over some potential... undertones that kind of come with the era.

It also had a badass poster.

 

[Akahige]

Hm, I thought he was great in The Fall.

Maybe he gets better but I stopped watching after two episodes.