July 27, 2022, 12:13 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Streaming provider Netflix is known for its numerous original productions. One film stands out from the crowd of projects announced for this summer due to its budget alone: “The Gray Man.” What should you know about the most expensive Netflix film of all time?
Netflix, blockbusters, stars, lots of budget–so far, this formula has paid off for the streaming giant. Looking at the most successful original productions in the film sector on the platform, they include “The Irishman” and “Don’t Look Up.” The most successful film to date, “Red Notice,” cost $150 million and featured stars like Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds.
Overview
Netflix now hopes for similar success with “The Gray Man.” The film is said to have cost a whopping $200 million. In the lead role, we see none other than Golden Globe winner Ryan Gosling (known for “La La Land,” “Gangster Squad”).
In 2022, Netflix experienced a decline in subscriber numbers for the first time and subsequently announced plans to focus on quality over quantity. “The Gray Man” could be the first step in this new strategy, even though the film was nearly completed before the shift in direction. TECHBOOK has gathered all the information on the potential new Netflix hit.
When will “The Gray Man” premiere on Netflix?
For a long time, it was only known that “The Gray Man” would premiere in summer 2022. The final release date was set at the end of April. The action film will be available for streaming worldwide starting July 22, 2022. A first glimpse was already provided in the general Netflix film preview of the year and in the trailer. Both promise plenty of action. Incidentally, for lead actor Ryan Gosling, this is his first true action film. For the physically demanding shoot, the film star even had a “real Gray Man,” a former member of the Delta Force, by his side.
Big names on the cast list
Ryan Gosling is prominently featured on the first movie posters and was early on confirmed for the lead role. The Canadian actor brings a lot of experience in the action genre. Besides Gosling, there are many other famous faces to see in the film:
- Ryan Gosling as Court Gentry (“Sierra Six”), a mercenary on the run
- Chris Evans as Lloyd Hansen, a psychopathic ex-CIA agent
- Ana de Armas as Dani Miranda, CIA agent
- Regé-Jean Page as Denny Carmichael, criminal
- Billy Bob Thornton as Donald Fitzroy
- Jessica Henwick as Suzanne Brewer
- Alfre Woodard as Maurice Cahill
- Robert Kazinsky as Perini
- Wagner Moura as Laszlo Sosa
- Dhanush as Avik San
- Julia Butters as Claire Fitzroy
Behind the camera are the brothers Joe and Anthony Russo. The duo has already worked successfully with Netflix on “Tyler Rake: Extraction.” One of the most spectacular films in cinema history, “Avengers: Endgame,” is also credited to the Russo brothers.
The plot of “The Gray Man”
The action film is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney. Court Gentry (Gosling) is a former agent and assassin, now working as a mercenary for the CIA. When he comes across information that severely incriminates the intelligence agency itself, he becomes a target. His rival Lloyd Hansen (Evans) then does everything he can to take him out, and a chase around the globe ensues.
Plans for a film adaptation existed as early as the 2010s. At that time, Brad Pitt was supposed to play the lead role. A second attempt by Sony with a female lead, played by Charlize Theron, also failed. Now Netflix has invested a significant amount of money to finally bring “The Gray Man” to the screen.
This film has broken all records on Netflix.
One of Netflix’s Biggest Films of All Time Is Getting a Sequel
The most expensive Netflix film of all time
As mentioned earlier, the new Netflix blockbuster cost a significant amount of money: the streaming service shelled out $200 million for the action spectacle. Whether this investment will pay off remains to be seen. However, the conditions seem quite favorable.
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Incidentally, the novel is part of a book series. There are already 11 volumes. After an extremely successful start, Netflix officially announced its plans for a sequel. In addition to a sequel, which will most likely again be based on the novels, a spin-off is also planned. For “The Gray Man 2,” both actor Ryan Gosling and the directing duo of Joe and Anthony Russo are expected to return. For the spin-off, “Deadpool” screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are among those being considered.