Last month, Collider broke the news thatJoeandAnthony Russowere teaming withBarackandMichelle Obamato produceExit Westfor Netflix withRiz Ahmedpoised to star. Though production has halted around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, Joe Russo gave Collider’s editor-in-chiefSteve Weintrauban update on the project, which sounds like it may be further along than we previously thought.
“We have a project we’re really excited about with the Obamas calledExit West, which is based on a tremendous book, a beautifully written novel, heart-wrenching, so that’s another project we have at Netflix,” said Russo, whose AGBO Films produced the streamer’sChris HemsworthmovieExtractioncoming out on Friday.
Russo confirmed that Ahmed will star, and said he’s “really looking forward” toExit West, adding “it could definitely get in front of cameras soon. The question is, obviously, ‘when?’ and that’s a question everyone in the industry is asking at the moment.”
On Monday, Russo detailedwhat it would take for production to resume – namely, widespread testing – and he explained why safety is paramount on set.
“Sets are crowded. There’s a lot of people on set, [so there’s] certainly a high risk for a breakout amongst a crew. The questions are, ‘how do we protect each other and ourselves?’
That speaks to the point I made yesterday, in which I suggested we may see far fewer people on set in the post-pandemic future. Though life as we know it will surely change, it’s nice knowing that the Russos and the Obamas are working to bring a life-affirming novel likeExit Westto a global audience in need of hope more than ever.
Exit Westtackles the global refugee crisis and takes place in an unidentified country in the Middle East, where young Saeed (Ahmed) and burqa-wearing Nadia flee their home after Saeed’s mother is killed by a stray bullet stemming from violent clashes between guerrillas and the local government. The couple joins other migrants traveling to safer havens via carefully guarded doors. Through one door, they wind up in a crowded camp on the Greek Island of Mykonos. Through another, they secure a private room in an abandoned London mansion populated mostly by displaced Nigerians. A third door takes them to California’s Marin County. In each location, their relationship is tested by their struggle to find food, adequate shelter and a sense of belonging among emigrant communities. The allegorical tale shows the contrast between the migrants’ tenuous daily reality and that of the privileged native population who’d prefer that they disappear.
Yann Demangeis slated to direct the adaptation ofMohsin Hamid‘s bestseller, and joining the Russos and the Obamas as producers will be AGBO’sMike Laroccaand Higher Ground’sTonia DavisandPriya Swaminathan.
Up next for the Russos isCherry, which starsTom Hollandas a strung-out bank robber. The brothers have also spent the past eight months working withAvengers: EndgamewritersChristopher MarkusandStephen McFeelyon a top-secret project based on a well-known IP.Click herefor a first-look atCherry,andclick hereto watch the latest trailer forExtraction.
