Slowly but surely Netflix is building a stable of cinema to rival their excellence in television. The newest member of the cast from their upcoming science fiction film, Okja, only adds to the film's clout. Breaking Bad 's Giancarlo Esposito is now on board the new film by the director of Snowpiercer.
Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho turned heads with 2013's Snowpiercer, the director's first English language film. Many fans who saw it may have very well caught it for the first time via Netflix as the film has been available for the streaming service for some time (if you haven't, go do that right now). It may have been the film's popularity there that led Netflix to sign the director to direct his next feature exclusively for them. Okja tells the story of a young girl who befriends a massive genetically modified pig, named Okja. When the corporation who created the creature attempts to take him back, the girl mounts a rescue mission. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Giancarlo Esposito is now on board to play the right-hand man of the corporation head, who will, in turn, be played by former Snowpiercer star Tilda Swinton.
In addition to Giancarlo Esposito and Tilda Swinton, the film will also co-star Jake Gyllenhaal and The Walking Dead's Steven Yuen. Korean actress Ahn Seo-Hyeun will play the lead role of the young girl, Mija.
This will be the second Netflix project for Giancarlo Esposito as he also stars in The Get Down, a new series about a group of teens living in the Bronx in the 1970's. The Get Down is scheduled for release in August.
While the plot synopsis for Okja sounds slightly goofy, (a genetically modified pig?) we'll trust Bong Joon-ho to create something unique and interesting. Snowpiercer was an exciting and dramatic film that took place entirely on a train. If that's possible, then there's no reason to believe that the same drama can't be brought to what otherwise sounds like a rejected script for a new Godzilla movie.
In recent months, Netflix has been making a concerted effort to build their library to both a volume, and a level of quality, consistent with their television offerings. While several Netflix shows have won Emmy awards in over the last couple of years, the streaming service has had a harder time getting their film's recognized. Part of the problem is due to a reluctance of theater owners to support them. While Netflix films do see a limited release in theaters, the fact that they're also released via the streaming platform simultaneously causes most theaters to balk at screening them, meaning the release is even more limited than Netflix would like.
What do you think of the cast of Okja ? Will you be checking this one out when it hits in 2017?
