“Fair Play” Director Chloe Domont Announces $20 Million Netflix Offer

Director Chloe Domont is eyeing the release of erotic thriller “Fair Play” after it landed Netflix in a massive $20 million Sundance deal.

“Bridgerton” breakout Phoebe Dynevor stars alongside established Netflix star Alden Ehrenreich in the drama about two investment firm associates who secretly hedge their own bets in bed. “Knives Out” director Rian Johnson executive produced the film with Ram Bergman of T-Street. Of course, Johnson’s deal with the streamer may have had something to do with “Fair Play” coming to Netflix.

“I’m sure it didn’t hurt,” Domont told IndieWire’s Eric Kohn exclusively.

The “Billions,” “Suits” and “Ballers” episodic helmets got the pitch from Netflix before the deal closed. Netflix has picked up “Fair Play” as its first major distribution deal for the 2023 festival.

“It’s been a wild few days,” Domont said. “It’s also the audience’s reaction to the film and the way people are talking about the film that it’s really generating conversation and debate. Honestly, I just talk to women who come up to me and say, “I’ve never felt like this before.” For me, that’s why I make movies.”

Domont went on to work with Netflix: “I think one of the most important things was who really understood the film the best and who was really, really passionate about it. And then who has the weight to bring it out and push it in the right direction. Those were all factors that I think were very, very important.”

And just because “Fair Play” landed at a streamer doesn’t mean Domont isn’t still looking for a theatrical release, noting that he’s “working” on solidifying the deal.

“Given the audience response to the film and the way people are audibly reacting to this film, it seems like everyone wants a theatrical release, so we’re working on that element,” Domont said. “It really depends on the film and the audience’s reaction to the film that determines that.”

IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio praised the film for “exploding like a bomb set off by the explosive and doubly bad chemistry of its two leads.” Comparing the drama to Adrian Lyne directing The Industry, Lattanzio wrote that audiences will be “very happy to go merrily to hell” with the twisted seduction of the film’s protagonists.

“Fair Play” executive producer Johnson’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” debuted in select theaters one week a month before the film’s Netflix release. Johnson voiced his determination for Glass Onion to set a precedent for Netflix with major theater chains like AMC and Regal.

“We were very interested in how it went,” Johnson said in December 2022. “We wanted it to do incredibly well for many reasons. I guess for me because I really want to show that it can happen and it can be a huge success. And that when you hit the service, people will continue to show up and it’s going to be huge on the service. That these two things can complement each other. Because next time I want more. I want more theater. I want it longer.”

Johnson concluded: “Once it’s on the service, it will be available in theaters and we’re looking at what form it might take. I buy as much as I can. But that has a lot to do with what the theaters are willing to do, what makes sense.”

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