David Fincher’s long anticipated film Mank praised by producer Eric Roth

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

After delivering films like FIGHT CLUB, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, ZODIAC, and THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO, as well as Netflix's gritty serial killer drama MINDHUNTER, fans of David Fincher's body of work are eagerly anticipating his next feature, MANK.

Described as a passion project for the famed filmmaker, Fincher's MANK chronicles the hardships of Herman J. Mankiewicz's efforts to write CITIZEN KANE. As you're likely to know, CITIZEN KANE is considered by many to be the best film in movie history, and its notorious connection to newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst is the stuff of Hollywood legend. Set to play Mankiewicz for Fincher's next feature is Gary Oldman, who'll be joined by Lily Collins, Amanda Seyfried, Charles Dance, Tom Pelphrey, and Tuppence Middleton, among others, for the biographical drama.

Recently, MANK producer Eric Roth appeared on Pardon My Take, where he said that MANK is set to release on Netflix this October. Roth then proceeded to heap praise onto Fincher's new film, saying, “It’s an incredible piece. He did a black-and-white ’30s movie. It looks like a ’30s movie and feels like one.” The producer also joked, “Six people will go see it, but it’s pretty amazing.” To be clear, Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for MANK, though the October window makes sense when you consider that Netflix will want the film to be an Oscar contender. Whether or not the film receives a theatrical release will depend on cinemas reopening amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Finally, because I'm a music fan above all else, I'll take a moment to mention that Fincher is once again working with with his longtime composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for MANK. How their style will be adapted for a '30s era black and white feature remains to be heard, but I simply cannot wait to get it all up in my ear holes.

We'll be sure to bring you more details related to MANK as they come about.

Source: Pardon My Take, Film Stage

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.