Overlord, AKA 'Cloverfield 4,' Still Getting A Theatrical Release Despite 'Cloverfield Paradox' Going To Netflix
Despite streaming service provider Netflix's acquisition of The Cloverfield Paradox, Paramount Pictures will release Overlord, the supposed title for Cloverfield 4, in theaters.
Fans were surprised to see a Netflix ad on The Cloverfield Paradox on Sunday during Super Bowl, but what was more of a shocker was the convenience provided to subscribers as the film was made available on the platform right after the game.
So for the fate of the fourth installment of the Cloverfield franchise, many are wondering whether it would debut as well on Netflix. The answer is, Paramount Pictures will give a theatrical release for Overlord on Oct. 26, as earlier planned.
Paramount Pictures nor J.J. Abrams did not release any statement about this matter. The source said that the deal between Netflix and Paramount was a "one-off" and was actually associated with the franchise's 2007 enigmatic vibe.
Back then, the trailer for Cloverfield was released. The clip showed a found footage of the headless Statue of Liberty, but it was then title-less.
Overlord, which takes place during the World War II, is directed by Julius Avery. It is co-written by Mark Smith and Billy Ray. It stars Game of Thrones' Jacob Anderson, Fences' Jovan Adepo, and Black Mirror: Playtest's Wyatt Russell.
Overlord was dubbed as the Cloverfield 4 since March last year, as per sources' accounts. The story will revolve around paratroopers who would later find out that Nazis are resorting to the supernatural.
'The Cloverfield Paradox' Rescue Plan
It was supposed to premiere on movie houses on April 20, but sources say that Paramount Pictures decided to sell the film. Netflix reportedly had to shell out $50 million for The Cloverfield Paradox, which was produced by Abrams.
This was reportedly in a bid to save Paramount Pictures from costly marketing stints. Apart from this, it could also save them money, considering The Cloverfield Paradox had received negative and unfavorable reviews. Studio bosses and Netflix officials were also engaged in talks over the holidays before finalizing plans this January.
The amount provided by Netflix was $10 million more than the film's budget, making the deal profitable. The huge spending for The Cloverfield Paradox was attributed to reshoots.
The Cloverfield Paradox got low ratings in IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. It had also been critically welcomed by viewers, and had gotten compared to 2016's 10 Cloverfield Lane many times.
The Julius Onah-directed film starred Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Daniel Bruhl, Elizabeth Debicki, and Chris O'Dowd, among many others.
