'Nobody bothers you': 'The Gray Man' helmers say working with Netflix is' less stressful' than traditional studio

In a recent interview, the Russo brothers also praised Netflix for giving directors a 45-day window for theatrical releases
UPDATED JUL 16, 2022
(L-R) Anthony Russo and Joe Russo attend the World Premiere of Netflix's "The Gray Man" (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
(L-R) Anthony Russo and Joe Russo attend the World Premiere of Netflix's "The Gray Man" (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

In recent years, we have seen all the renowned filmmakers leaning toward streaming services for their big-budgeted epics. Even though some of them don’t like their movies to be released on streaming platforms, they know that it’s the only way to make their projects accessible across the globe. Joe and Anthony Russo, popularly known as the Russo Brothers, have been two of the most influential filmmakers of this era, and their movies have minted billions of dollars at the box office. However, they feel it is “less stressful” working with production companies like Netflix than the traditional Hollywood studios.

The Russo brother gained worldwide recognition with ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ and went on to direct three more movies for Marvel, including ‘Avengers: Endgame’. Even after working with Marvel and Disney for so long, they still believe that producing movies with Netflix is much easier. Their latest movie, entitled ‘The Gray Man’, is set to hit the platform on Friday, July 22, and sees Ryan Gosling playing a CIA black ops mercenary who is now being hunted by one of his former colleagues and international assassins.

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The Gray Man on Netflix
Ryan Gosling in a still from 'The Gray Man' (Netflix)

Talking about why Netflix is “easier” to work with than a traditional Hollywood studio, Joe Russo revealed that Netflix, as a production company, doesn’t take the approach of a “studio” and acts more like a “tech company”. The filmmaker believes that it is one of the top reasons why directing or producing a project with the platform as mentioned earlier is “less stressful”.

They also believe that streaming services have fostered “more diversity” in the past five years than Hollywood has “in a hundred”.  The pair explains how Netflix differs from the rest of the industry. 

“Their mentality is more the mentality of a tech company than a studio. They’re very hands-off. Nobody bothers you. They have a different approach to how they control the budget of the movie. It’s not as stressful as it is at a studio. There are a lot of positives to working with them. And I’d argue that I think digital distribution has fostered more diversity in the past five years than Hollywood has in a hundred. Because they’re regionally supported, they need to foster connection and talent in those regional markets,” Joe Russo told The Hollywood Reporter.

The Netflix logo is displayed at Netflix's Los Angeles headquarters on October 07, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The IATSE union which represents Hollywood’s film and television production crews voted to authorize a strike, calling for better working conditions and higher pay amid a surge in streaming demand. Negotiations are ongoing but a strike may be imminent.
The Netflix logo is displayed at Netflix's Los Angeles headquarters on October 07, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The IATSE union which represents Hollywood’s film and television production crews voted to authorize a strike, calling for better working conditions and higher pay amid a surge in streaming demand. Negotiations are ongoing but a strike may be imminent. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The Russo brothers also praised Netflix for allowing filmmakers to release their movies in theatres for 45 days and distributing them to the whole world with their giant platform. Joe said, “You know what might make everybody happy is Netflix starts doing 45-day windows and they have their giant digital distribution platform. Everybody wins. That feels like where it’s going.”

‘The Gray Man’ will be the first movie for the Russo brothers with Netflix as directors. Previously, the duo served as producers in the hit action movie ‘Extraction’ starring Chris Hemsworth. On the other hand, this is the second movie they have directed for a streaming service in the last two years. In 2021, Joe and Anthony Russo made ‘Cherry’ for Apple TV+ and garnered mixed reviews.

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Ana de Armas as Dani Miranda in 'The Gray Man' (Netflix)
Ana de Armas as Dani Miranda in 'The Gray Man' (Netflix)

The upcoming Netflix movie has managed to create a lot of buzz since its inception and as the release day comes closer, fans have got really excited to see some of the biggest Hollywood stars bringing some carnage on their screens. ‘The Gray Man’ also stars Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Rege-Jean Page, Julia Butters, and Alfre Woodard in pivotal roles.

The movie will be premiering exclusively on Netflix on Friday, July 22.

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