Netflix has shelved Nancy Meyers’ Paris Paramount project due to budget concerns. Meyers is best known for her romantic comedies and dramas, such as What Women Want, The Holiday and If I Were You. Paris Paramount was supposed to be her first film since 2015’s The Intern, and Meyers was already in talks with an all-star cast that included Owen Wilson, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Fassbender and Penélope Cruz. The film tells the story of two directors who fall in love and then break up before being forced to work together on a new project.
According to reports from Deadline, Netflix became concerned about Paris Paramount’s budget increase, ultimately deciding to shelve Meyers’ project. Netflix had agreed on a budget of $130 million, but the director wanted to get to $150 million, creating a blockage. Since no agreement could be reached, Paris Paramount will be put on hold.
Meyers has a long résumé of movies that appeal to audiences and turn a profit, which drives her to collaborate with impressive talent. You worked with Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves and Frances McDormand on Something’s gotta give, and with Meryl Streep, John Krasinski and Steve Martin on If I Were You. Her latest film, The Intern, starred Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, while The Holiday teamed Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Cameron Diaz.
Paris Paramount was forming an equally star-studded cast, making it an attractive project for a studio that offers audience appeal. Despite the impressive pedigree, Netflix is trying to be thrifty with spending following its financial worries; the service has seen subscriptions drop and is now looking to end password sharing. However, another streaming service or studio looking for a rom-com with broad cinematic appeal could still find value in Paris Paramount.
Meyers’ name carries considerable weight in the motion picture industry, and with the addition of a large cast he has proven to be successful. Another streaming service, such as Prime Video, Hulu, or Apple TV+, may step in to save the movie. However, Meyers may have to continue to fight for the reported $150 million budget, too large a sum for many streaming services. So while Paris Paramount’s future is uncertain, Meyers and her talented cast could still find a home elsewhere.
Source: Deadlines.