Killers Of The Flower Moon, a crime-drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has been a long-pending project due to budget issues. Apple is in final talks with Paramount to partner and produce the project, which carries a price tag of more than $150 million, reported The Hollywood Reporter. MGM and Netflix were among the potential suitors that kicked the tires.
Previously The Irishman was also set up at Paramount but due to its climbing high cost, the film was sold to Netflix. This is the second time Scorsese has had trouble with making his film due to cost-related issues.
Apple struck the deal by winning a fierce bidding war to partner with Paramount Studios on Martin Scorsese’s big-budget film Killers of the Flower Moon, which will be starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The high cost surrounding the film was expected due to the expensive right of the book ($5 Million) purchased back in 2016 by Imperative Entertainment.
Killers of the Flower Moon is based on David Grann’s book of the same name and has a script by Eric Roth. The book is set in 1920s Oklahoma when the Osage Nation discovered oil under their land, the Native Americans found themselves being murdered one by one. Unravelling a chilling conspiracy and one of the most monstrous crimes in American history.
The director turned to Netflix, personally reaching out to film head Scott Stuber. The streamer, according to a source, had quoted USD 215 million for the project. But that may not have been enough, keeping in mind the $55 million per day cost. MGM considered the project before Apple finally bought it.
Killers Of The Flower Moon will mark the sixth collaboration between DiCaprio and Scorsese, who last teamed on 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street. The movie will see theatrical release and the shooting is yet to start.