Netflix may have broken through the gates of online original content, but Amazon was the first to follow them through. No longer solely for buying broken printers from strangers, Amazon has aggressively expanded its library of streaming video to include original TV programming and now, a full-blown movie. Amazon proved its own staying power at this year’s Golden Globes ceremony, when the studio’s breakout hit Transparent earned leading man Jeffrey Tambor a Best Actor trophy, and the show itself took home the Best TV Series—Comedy or Musical prize. Now, Amazon has taken the next step into legitimacy by landing the rights to a major theatrical release with A-list stars.
Variety reports that Amazon Studios has secured the rights to Elvis & Nixon, a curious historical drama starring Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey as the titular men, respectively. Under the direction of Loveship Hateship helmer Liza Johnson, the film tells the strange-but-true story of a 1970 meeting between the rock ’n’ roll icon and the 37th President of the United States. Nixon was gunning for a photo op that might win him some favor with young voters, a demographic in which he was specifically lacking. Elvis came to the White House in an attempt to join the fight against the scourge of drugs in America. I assume that their small-talk was weird in ways you and I can scarcely imagine.
Recognizing a hit when they saw one (Michael Shannon as the King = box-office gold, at least as far as I’m concerned), Amazon Studios has snapped up distribution rights to the upcoming film. Elvis & Nixon will not debut on Amazon Instant Streaming, however, going instead directly into an exclusive theatrical run with oversight from Bleecker Street. This is the latest development in a major sea change, with power shifting away from major studios little by little and going toward versatile, lean online companies. In recent months, Amazon has laid claim to projects from such major auteurs as Spike Lee, Jim Jarmusch, and Terry Gilliam as well. Talented artists working with increased creative freedom on passion projects? That can only be good news.