David Fincher's Mank (starring Gary Oldman)

[imsounoriginal]

David Fincher, Gary Oldman Team On B&W ‘Mank’ At Netflix; Film On ‘Citizen Kane’ Writer Herman J. Mankiewicz Scripted By Fincher’s Late Father Howard

BREAKING: After making the groundbreaking series House of Cards and Mindhunter at Netflix, David Fincher will direct his first feature film for the streaming service. He’ll helm Mank, a long gestating dream project for the filmmaker about the man who shared the Best Original screenplay for Citizen Kane with Orson Welles. Gary Oldman is going to star as screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz in a drama that was scripted by Fincher’s late father, Howard Fincher.

The film is coming together for a November shoot in Los Angeles, and Fincher will shoot in black and white. Ceán Chaffin will produce the picture with Douglas J. Urbanski, Oldman’s partner who was Oscar nominated for producing Darkest Hour, the film that won Oldman the Best Actor Oscar.

Mank was once going to be Fincher’s follow his 1997 film The Game, and at one time it was going to star his future House of Cards star leading man Kevin Spacey as the storied screenwriter. It fell apart because of the filmmaker’s insistence that he shoot in black and white, as Citizen Kane was shot. Fincher was particularly passionate about the script written by his own father, the former Life Magazine bureau chief who died in 2003.

Mankiewicz was one of the best known and best paid screenwriters in the early years of Hollywood and he clashed loudly with Orson Welles over the credit on the seminal drama Citizen Kane, and it took a great toll on him. A former Berlin correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and the drama critic for The New York Times and The New Yorker, Mankiewicz wrote for the some of the most prominent movies of his period, and both he and Welles shared the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Citizen Kane in 1941. Other films he worked on during his career included The Wizard of Oz, Man of the World, Dinner at Eight, Pride of the Yankees and The Pride of St. Louis. While he was known for a satirical sense of humor he lent to his scripts, this story isn’t a happy one.

Oldman just starred for Netflix in the Steven Soderbergh-directed The Laundromat, the drama about the massive data leak known as the Panama Papers, alongside a cast that includes Meryl Streep and Antonio Banderas.

Fincher also exec produced the animated short story collection Love, Death & Robots for Netflix.

[Hoke Moseley]

David Fincher, Gary Oldman Team for Netflix Biopic on ‘Citizen Kane’ Screenwriter



David Fincher has signed on to direct his first feature film since 2014, a biopic revolving around “Citizen Kane” screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, with Gary Oldman tapped to play the titular role.

The film, titled “Mank,” is based on a script by Fincher’s late father, Jack, who had penned the script prior to his death in 2003.

Specific plot details are vague, but sources say the story will follow Mankiewicz’s tumultuous development of the script for “Citizen Kane” — which would go on to be considered one of the best films of all time — alongside director Orson Welles. Despite the film’s critical success, the script was the only part of the film to win an Oscar.

The film will also be shot in black and white, with production scheduled to begin in November.

Fincher will produce alongside producing partner Cean Chaffin and Douglas Urbanski.

“Mank” marks Fincher’s first feature since Fox’s “Gone Girl” starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. Fincher has primarily worked in television since “Gone Girl,” partnering with Netflix to direct shows such as “House of Cards,” “Mindhunter” and “Love, Death & Robots.”

Oldman, who won the Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour” last year, has been busy shooting several films including Steven Soderbergh’s “The Laundromat,” which is also at Netflix; “The Woman in the Window” and “The Courier.” He is repped by APA and Douglas Management.

https://variety.com/2019/film/news/d...ix-1203263923/

Finally another feature for Fincher.

[J-Mart]

Thanks for the news but I guess this means no Blu-ray.

[ArrestedDevelopment]

Wow. This sounds totally out of the norm for Fincher. He's brilliant nevertheless so I'm sold.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Now my David Fincher collection will never be complete.

[Hoke Moseley]

Beat me by one minute you sunnuva.....

Scripted by Fincher's father and being shot in black and white? So hyped for this.

[Rizor]

Hmm. Well, it's nice to see Fincher getting back behind the camera, though I'd prefer to see the film get the usual theatrical release, home video release, etc.

Interesting to see Fincher and Oldman finally working together. Oldman was supposed to play the Brian Cox role in Zodiac, and his manager popped up in a role in The Social Network. I believe Oldman and Fincher also share an ex-wife.

[imsounoriginal]

Been too long since Fincher’s last feature, kind of a shame it won’t be released physically with all of his usual documentaries and commentaries but I’m just glad to be getting a new movie from him. And he’ll finally get to work with Oldman after at least one false start (Social Network IIRC). B&W will be dope as well, he did it nicely on that JT video a few years ago.

[Creed]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Been too long since Fincher’s last feature, kind of a shame it won’t be released physically with all of his usual documentaries and commentaries but I’m just glad to be getting a new movie from him. And he’ll finally get to work with Oldman after at least one false start (Social Network IIRC). B&W will be dope as well, he did it nicely on that JT video a few years ago.

Ah yes, Suit and Tie. Gorgeous video:

Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie ft. JAY Z (Official Music Video) - YouTube

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by J-Mart

Thanks for the news but I guess this means no Blu-ray.

Well, Roma is getting a Blu-ray. So, you never know.

I am very excited to see this, as it sounds amazing. And new Fincher is always good Fincher. Plus Oldman? Where do I see up?

[JEDGAR1000]

Fincher black & white sounds cool, but I find it hard to get excited for any Netflix exclusive films knowing they won't get discs.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Well, Roma is getting a Blu-ray. So, you never know.

Is it? I don't see it listed that it's coming this year.

[imsounoriginal]

We need to start getting Fincher movies on UHD. It’s about damn time.

[Cremildo]

Finally. A new David Fincher film.

[JEDGAR1000]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Is it? I don't see it listed that it's coming this year.

The director said they planned one at the q & a for the film.

Still though, that's 1 movie among hundreds thus far receiving a bluray.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Is it? I don't see it listed that it's coming this year.

That's weird. I remember discussiong on more than one occassion -- Well, either they changed their minds, or it never was announced in the first place and I just dreamt this whole thing to begin with.

But you're right: I don't see it either. Very, very, strange.

[Pondosinatra]

You had me at Gary Oldman...and to a slightly lesser degree...David Fincher.

[Cremildo]

Early 2021 Oscar predix: whoever is responsible for the lensing (Jeff Cronenweth?) will earn a Best Cinematography nomination.

[aiman04]

So World War Z II is dead? Good, it's so not his kind of material.

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Now my David Fincher collection will never be complete.

Print the poster, get an empty case and put it on your shelf among other Fincher blu-rays. When you want to watch it, take the case, open and then launch Netflix.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by aiman04

Print the poster, get an empty case and put it on your shelf among other Fincher blu-rays. When you want to watch it, take the case, open and then launch Netflix.

Netflix is starting to lose content and cutting budgets in half from here on out. I think I'll stick with Disney +/Hulu. See, this is exactly why we still need physical media. I'm not going to spend all my money on these services.