Chloe Domont’s “Fair Play,” a Wall Street drama that has premiered at Sundance, sold to Netlfix in a $20 million worldwide rights deal, according to an individual with knowledge of the deal.
“Fair Play” is led by “Solo” star Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor as Luke and Emily, co-workers at a financial firm who are deeply in love and about to be engaged. But their relationship falls apart when Emily gets a promotion at their firm, leading to a change in power dynamics that poisons their personal lives and eventually leads to violence. Eddie Marsan and Rich Sommer also star in the film.
The film sparked a bidding war that included Searchlight and Neon. It fell short of the $25 million record for a Sundance sale, set in 2021 by Apple’s “CODA,” but did surpass the $17.5 million of the previous record holders — 2020’s “Palm Springs” (which actually sold for $17,500,000.69, yuk-yuk) and 2016’s “The Birth of a Nation.”
“Fair Play” is Domont’s feature film debut after making a name for herself directing shorts and television episodes of “Billions,” “Suits” and “Ballers.”
The film was produced by MRC and Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman’s T-Street as part of a new production venture to highlight up-and-coming filmmakers. Because of the two studios’ relationship with Netflix — for which Johnson directed the “Knives Out” sequel “Glass Onion” — it is believed that the streamer had the inside track for acquisition.
The producers are Leopold Hughes and Ben LeClaire from T-Street; Tim White, Trevor White, Allan Mandelbaum from Star Thrower Entertainment. Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman from T-Street are the executive producers.
Deadline first reported the news.
