Netflix And David Fincher Still Working On Prequel To Crime Noir Classic

Originally released in 1974, Chinatown was one of the decade’s most prestigious movies, earning 11 Oscar nominations. Robert Towne’s screenplay earned the film’s only Oscar win, making his involvement in the prequel a huge win for Netflix. Directed by controversial director Roman Polanski, it earned $29.2 million at the box office on a $6 million budget, making it a financial success on top of its critical accolades.

The Netflix Chinatown prequel series will follow the early career of private investigator Jake Gittes, played by Jack Nicholson in the original film. It will also expand on the relationship between Jake and LAPD officer Lou Escobar, with the show possibly exploring their partnership alluded to in the original. Other than the return of those key characters, no plot details have been announced. 

While the Netflix series will be the first attempt at a prequel to Chinatown, it’s not the first attempt to expand on the universe. The 1990 film The Two Jakes was a direct sequel that saw Jack Nicholson as both the leading man and the director. Despite Robert Towne returning as screenwriter, the movie was a box office flop, losing $15 million and scrapping plans for a trilogy. 

With Chinatown being co-written by David Fincher, who is also slated to direct the pilot, the slow writing process may be explained by his other projects with Netflix. The esteemed director is working on a remake of another classic film for the streaming platform, Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train. He’s also rumored to be working on a remake of the popular Korean death game drama Squid Games.  

For his part, Robert Towne described working with Fincher as both “humbling” and “enlightening.” At 90 years old, he’s been in semi-retirement, with his last screenwriting credit being the 2006 movie Ask the Dusk. In addition to Chinatown, Towne is the writer behind such classics as Mission Impossible, Days of Thunder, and Tequila Sunrise. 

While it’s great to have an update on the Chinatown Netflixprequel there are still more questions than answers around the series. The completed scripts seem to imply Netflix is still interested in the project but with no mention of a completed pilot that could still change. Details like plot, casting, and who will direct beyond the first episode are also huge question marks at this point. 

Chinatown is an all-time crime noir classic, and the prequel has the potential to be a unique hit for Netflix. It’s encouraging to hear that progress has been made on the show, with completed scripts being handed over to the streaming platform. Hopefully, with such talented creators working on such prolific property, the series will move forward soon.

Source: Variety