David Fincher & Robert Towne developing Chinatown prequel series for Netflix

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

David Fincher seems to be quite happy with his relationship with Netflix as Deadline has reported that he's closed a deal with the streaming service to write a pilot script for a prequel to CHINATOWN alongside Robert Towne, who won an Academy Award for scripting the original film.

The original 1974 film, which was directed by Roman Polanski, starred Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes, a private detective who was hired to expose an adulterer but found himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder instead. Ain't that always the case. It's said that the prequel will focus on a young Jake Gittes as he "plies his business in a town where the wealthy and corruption involves areas like land, oil and gangs." It's obvious that the hope is that David Fincher will direct the pilot of the potential series, but Deadline states that that's not part of the deal just yet. Fincher is also slated to serve as executive producer alongside Robert Towne and Josh Donen. This isn't the first time that Towne has returned to the world of CHINATOWN, as he also scripted THE TWO JAKES, the 1990 sequel to the original which found Jake Nicholson reprising the role of Jake Gittes in addition to directing. Unfortunately, the sequel was a box-office failure which led to plans for a potential third film being scrapped.

Should this CHINATOWN prequel series move forward, it will be one of several projects which Fincher has developed for Netflix over the years, including House of Cards, Mindhunter, and MANK, an upcoming feature-film which chronicles the battles between Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles over CITIZEN KANE. The film was scripted by Jack Fincher, David's late father, and stars Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins Tuppence Middleton, Charles Dance, and more.