Netflix Bags Biggest TIFF Deal with $20M 'Hit Man' Purchase
Netflix has sealed the deal for "Hit Man," making this the most substantial pact signed at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and the biggest industry deal so far this year, locking it at a hefty price tag of $20 million. Directed by Richard Linklater, the noir comic thriller, following its warmly received debut at Venice, was largely anticipated to cork the biggest deal of the fall festivals, a prospect it adequately lived up to.
The film is headlined by "Top Gun Maverick’s" Glen Powell and "Andor's" Adria Arjona as unexpected romantic partners. Their compelling performances are set to sky-rocket their careers, notably Powell who co-wrote the highly anticipated feature with Linklater. In addition to the U.S., Netflix acquired the film's rights in the U.K., Australia/New Zealand, India, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, and Iceland, with an added component rumored to include theatrical screenings.
This closing deal contributes to the festival's ticking deal counter, breathing life into the otherwise slow-paced negotiation activity. This coupling serves as Netflix's second significant TIFF score, following an $11 million deal for the Anna Kendrick-directed, AGC Studios financed and produced, "Woman of the Hour."
A little bird whispered that offers had piled up even before "Hit Man" premiered on Monday, but the sellers (CAA Media Finance, AGC Studios, and Cinetic Media) decided to hold off till the rays hit the silver screen. "Hit Man," co-produced by AGC, ShivHans Pictures, and Monarch Media, boosts its international appeal with a bounty of territorial agreements negotiated by AGC.
Now that we've got all the dry data out of the way, let's dive into the juicy bits, shall we?
In a delightful plot twist for the tabloids, Richard Linklater and Glen Powell (who are neck-deep in their fourth collaboration) penned the script, insouciantly borrowed from a Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth. The thrilling screenplay excavates the life of Gary Johnson, a school teacher moonlighting as a sham hit man for the New Orleans Police Dept.
Powell morphs into Johnson, a character wearing dual faces of a dull educator by day and charming, danger-laden hitman by night. Of course, things take the typical Hollywood turn when our assumed hit man falls head-over-guns in love with a client, played by Arjona, spinning a web of intrigue, secrets, and crimes.
Linklater wriggles out another intriguing worm from the Hollywood can with this one, an obvious nod to his previous collabs with Powell. Their professional allies include huge names such as Mike Blizzard, Jason Bateman, Michael Costigan, Stuart Ford, Zach Garrett, and many more. Filmed in the mystical whimsy of New Orleans, "Hitman" promises an intriguing blend of romance, action, and suspense.
Whether the heat of the Hit Man will prove to be a roaring inferno at the box office or just a minor spark in the arena of big sharks, only Lady Time can tell. And remember, in Hollywood, even the dancing shadows of a hit man can be a crowd-puller. Netflix has put its money on the table, now it's up to the global audience to respond. As the show-biz adage goes - always bet on a Hit Man.
