Netflix purchases Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation starring Idris Elba

Remember Qwikster? Back in 2011 Netflix announced plans to split their service in two; Netflix itself would focus entirely on streaming content while Qwikster would handle the Netflix subscribers who wanted their DVD’s by mail. In less than a month Qwikster was dead and people were left wondering if Netflix would have what it took to survive. I think we can safely say the joke's on us.

Netflix rebounded with amazing speed when it began producing its own content.  Shows like Orange is the New Black and House of Cards exploded onto the scene and only grew more popular as word of mouth spread. They then paired with Marvel and will soon be bringing us a Daredevil series as well as three more live-action Marvel shows focusing on Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage. 

Now Netflix is set to take another big leap forward with the purchase of Cary Fukunaga’s BEASTS OF NO NATION. The film focuses on a child soldier fighting a civil war in an African country who is being stripped away of his humanity by a brutal warlord played by Idris Elba. Cary Fukunaga wrote the screenplay himself based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala.

Deadline is reporting that Netflix paid around $12 million for the worldwide rights to the film and that there should be some sort of theatrical release as well as a large Oscar campaign. With this news, as well as the news of last years acquisition of the CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON sequel, Netflix is branching out even further and showing that they're a force to be reckoned with.

Cary Fukunaga's most recent work was last years breakout hit, True Detective. If his work on that show is indicative of the type of passion we'll be seeing in BEASTS OF NO NATION, I'd say we're in for a treat.