Netflix drops 'Perfect' after Millie Bobby Brown exits over creative differences
Los Angeles, April 11
Netflix has shelved its upcoming Olympic gymnastics drama 'Perfect' following the exit of actor Millie Bobby Brown due to creative differences, according to sources familiar with the project, according to Variety.
Brown was set to portray Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug, a member of the 1996 'Magnificent Seven' U.S. women's gymnastics team. The film was to be directed by Cate Shortland, with a screenplay by Ronnie Sandahl.
The film's original director, Gia Coppola, left the project earlier and was replaced by Shortland, as per the outlet.
Announced in September last year, 'Perfect' had Brown also serving as a producer under her banner, alongside producers Nik Bower of Riverstone Pictures and Thomas Benski for Magna Studios.
Strug became a historic figure during the 1996 Summer Olympics when, at just 18, she performed a vault on an injured ankle to help secure a gold medal for Team USA. After landing the vault, she collapsed due to injury and was carried off by her coach, later joining her teammates at the medal ceremony in one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history. Her achievement led to widespread recognition, including talk show appearances, a parody on Saturday Night Live and a feature on a Wheaties cereal box, according to Variety.
Following her gymnastics career, Strug worked as an elementary school teacher and held roles in the White House and the Justice Department.
Brown recently wrapped five seasons of Stranger Things, which she began at age 12. She is set to appear in Enola Holmes 3 this summer and has completed work on the romantic comedy Just Picture It, co-starring Gabrielle LaBelle.
She is also working on another Netflix project, Nineteen Steps, based on her debut novel, according to Variety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, good for her. If an actor, especially a young woman, feels strongly about the creative direction, she should walk away. Too many projects get ruined by studio interference. Respect for standing her ground.
Netflix shelving it completely seems like an overreaction. Can't they just recast? The story itself is powerful. Feels like a waste of a good script and director. Maybe another studio will buy it.
As a former gymnast myself, I'm disappointed. Strug's vault is legendary. I hope a biopic still gets made someday, with proper respect for the sport and the athlete's journey. The director change earlier was already a red flag.
Interesting to see how much power a star like Millie has now. The project lives and dies with her. On another note, her career post-Stranger Things is fascinating—producing, writing novels. She's building an empire, not just acting.
While I understand creative vision, it's a bit sad for all the other people who worked on it—the writers, the crew. Their hard work is now shelved. The business side of Hollywood can be brutal.
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