EXCLUSIVE: Gerard McMurray, who directed Burning Sands, one of Netflix’s original original features for the streamer, has returned to the studio and is ready to direct The formula with John Boyega and Robert De Niro attached to the star. McMurray will write, direct and produce the film through his newly formed production company Buppie Productions. Jane Rosenthal, De Niro and Berry Welsh will also produce.
The story follows a Formula One prodigy who is forced to become an escape driver to save the only family he has left. The project came about under the general agreement of Rosenthal and Welsh with Netflix. Jason Michael Berman is the executive producer, with Sam Shaw and Ephraim Walker of Buppie Productions as co-producers.
Boyega most recently starred in Steve McQueen’s acclaimed anthology film series Small Ax starring in Red White it’s blue installment. His previous credits include Star Wars sequential trilogy and Detroit. It is currently in production in They cloned Tyrone with Jamie Foxx.
De Niro returns to Netflix after his work on Martin Scorsese The Irishman, which also stars Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. He is about to start shooting the next untitled David O. Russell movie with Christian Bale and Margot Robbie and also recently finished Wash me in the river opposite John Malkovich. Besides Burning Sands, McMurray also recently directed The first Purge as well as a recent episode of the restart The Twilight Zone for CBS All Access.
Boyega is represented by the Identity Agency Group, De Niro is represented by CAA and McMurray is represented by WME, Artists First and lawyer Bianca Levin.