Netflix recently unveiled its renovations of the historic Egyptian Theatre on Thursday, which included an opening night screening of David Fincher’s The Killer to showcase the new venue. The streamer purchased the Egyptian in May 2020 and invested three years of renovations to open just in time to showcase its awards season films. The theater will also remain the home of the American Cinematheque, with the art organization planning to independently program movies Friday through Sunday, and Netflix using the venue for screenings, premieres, and special events Monday through Thursday.
The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender as an assassin on an international hunt for retribution, was the first of those special events ahead of its release on the streamer on Friday. Following the screening, Fincher and sound designer Ren Klyce took part in a Q&A, where Fincher explained the appeal of a film that is heavily set inside the head of Fassbender’s character and required a lot of voiceover.
“I liked the idea that if you were this dedicated to one specific POV, that we could do without a lot of backstory, a lot of gabbing about where this guy came from or where the people in the story came from,” Fincher said, adding, “The way the audience understands the V.O., the existence of any V.O. is this is the truth, right? Why would he be unreliable to himself? And yet most of the people I know are lying to themselves, so I just thought that was kind of an interesting way in.”
The director also explained that he found the hardest part of making The Killer to be fine-tuning the script to where the film was “art house enough to be interesting and enough of a fastball that you can kind of say, ‘We think there’ll be an audience for this’; finding the balance where it was mean enough to interest me and tame enough to be on a streaming service,” he said to laughs from the crowd.
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The movie is based on French comic books of the same name, and Fincher teased he may not be done with this world: “We have very interesting ideas for the future.” He also noted that with repeated killings showcased onscreen, he and writer Andrew Kevin Walker had to decide how to make each situation distinct and interesting.
“It’s basically the same thing, you’re taking somebody out to the woodshed who’s not coming back, and how are they going to make a case for themselves to live? That may not be enough drama to hang a whole movie on, but out of belligerence, I convinced Andy that it was,” Fincher joked. “He came back with some writing that seems to say, ‘Yeah, if we keep it in this kind of realm and stay this focused on these elements this could be mistaken for a story.’
He also discussed the use of modern technology in the film, including Fassbender’s character ordering items off of Amazon to assist with his attacks.
“It’s not a screed on technology — I understand how James Bond gets through the world, he has bazillions of dollars behind him and an entire security infrastructure to help him at every turn. Our guy’s a little different, he’s flying coach, and he’s putting his entire wardrobe together as he walks through an airport,” he said. “It wasn’t so much about like ‘Forget Jeff Bezos,’ it was like can you avail yourself of the technology that would make this easier?”
The Egyptian Theatre will now serve as a showcase for Netflix’s original films, providing a platform for exclusive screenings, premieres, and special events. This strategic move allows Netflix to engage with audiences in a traditional theater setting, enhancing the overall experience of its films. The renovation of the historic theater represents Netflix’s commitment to not only preserving cinematic heritage but also utilizing it to promote its own productions.
Moving forward, the Egyptian Theatre is expected to host an array of events and screenings, enriching the film community and contributing to the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. With its prime location and newly renovated facilities, the historic venue is poised to become a significant hub for film premieres, industry events, and cultural happenings. This revitalization presents an exciting opportunity for both Netflix and the American Cinematheque to collaborate in curating diverse and engaging cinematic experiences for audiences.
