Adam Sandleris one thing, but how did Netflix landBrad Pitt' Turns out, money talks.In April 2014, actor-producer Pitt announced he would star in Plan B's adaptation of the lateMichael Hastings' bookThe Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistanas Gen.Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan who was forced to resign after mocking Vice PresidentJoe Bidenand other Obama officials in Hastings' 2010Rolling Stonestory.What wasn't publicly known was that Pitt and edgy Australian auteurDavid Michod(Animal Kingdom,The Rover) wanted to make a satirical comedy, not a mainstream, dramatic biopic that would appeal to the U.S. heartland asClint Eastwood'sAmerican Sniperdid. Their movie,War Machine, could easily irk conservative audiences.The film had been set up at New Regency and RatPac Entertainment, but even though New Regency made12 Years a Slavewith Plan B, the backers wanted Michod and producers to lower the proposed $60 million to $70 million budget. The filmmakers balked, putting the project up for grabs, and Netflix revealed June 8 that it had swooped in and grabbedWar Machine. CAA, which represents Pitt and Plan B, brokered the deal with Netflix, while Michod is repped by UTA.Brad Pitt goes to war in new Netflix film: http://t.co/0gy00Wqo7y' Netflix US (@netflix) June 8, 2015Netflix chief content officerTed Sarandoswas willing to pay the $60 million the filmmakers wanted, according to a knowledgeable insider, debunking reports that pegged the price at about half that. "It's great for the specialty film business, since people might be more willing to see challenging, liberal-leaning material in the comfort of their own home [rather] than in a movie theater," says a source close to the deal. "More people might actually see the movie this way."Or, as Netflix spokesmanJonathan FriedlandtellsTHR: "David Michod and Brad Pitt are known for the fearless and exceptional intelligence of their work, which is whyWar Machinewill be a great treat for Netflix audiences around the world."And Netflix, which won't reveal budgets, doesn't have to worry about the same things a studio does. "You have a new player in the market willing to invest in material that is provocative," says another person involved with the film. "They have the money and need premium content to drive their subscription base."The move comes after Netflix has been relatively quiet at festival markets since it ramped up its push into original films in 2014 with Sandler's four-picture deal, although it did plunk down $17 million in Berlin earlier this year to pre-buy worldwide rights toJadotville, an Irish war drama starringJamie Dornan.And outside of the festival circuit proper, Netflix paid $12 million for rights toCaryFukunaga'sAfrican war dramaBeast of No Nation, starringIdris Elba(look for the movie to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September in hopes of an awards run).Such a huge investment inWar Machinelikely signals a commitment to film similar to the one the streaming service has made to TV, which has helped it lure 62 million subscribers. Michod starts shooting in August for a 2016 release on Netflix and in select theaters.SEE ALSO:Netflix makes its biggest deal yet by buying Brad Pitt's next movieSEE ALSO:Leonardo DiCaprio is partnering up with NetflixJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Here's The Hilarious 'Between Two Ferns' Video With Brad Pitt And Louis C.K.
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