Many believe David Fincher made a deal with the devil by exclusively signing with Netflix to create TV and movies for them. Fincher has defended this decision, countless times, and couldn’t care less what detractors might think about it. Would any other director have refused this offer to make whatever they desired as long as it went straight to streaming?
Regardless, this deal with Netflix also means that Fincher’s Netflix output will not be made available on physical media. That is unless one of his films gets the Criterion treatment, much like Scorsese’s “The Irishman” and Cuaron’s “Roma” did. Fincher is well aware of that, and in a new interview with Collider, tackling the recent 30th anniversary 4K restoration of “Se7en,” tackles this topic:
I like physical media, but I really like on-demand. I mean, I love liner notes, and I kind of prefer laser discs to anything just because I'm old and I remember what LPs used to be like. I do like the act of holding them. But I can't imagine there's any interest in the business plan from Netflix to make packaged goods out of the stuff that I've made for them because their whole thing is that mainline that connects your eyeballs to their servers. So, yeah, I doubt it.
Fincher has been all about Netflix, for over ten years now, delving into the streaming game full-on, creating shows such as “House of Cards,” “Mindhunter,” Love, Death + Robots,” and not to mention two feature films, “Mank” (2020) and “The Killer” (2023).
Fincher recently extended his Netflix contract for another three years, until 2027, and that includes free rein on movie projects. We’re not exactly sure what he will be shooting next for the streamer. There have been whispers of a western (“Bitterroot”) and, more controversially, a Squid Game series set in the States.