The 2017 Sundance Film Festival now officially over, Netflix has acquired Dee Rees’ latest directorial effort, “Mudbound,” for $12.5 million. The film made its World Premiere at the annual premiere event for American independent cinema.

A big-screen adaptation of Hillary Jordan’s 2009 novel of the same name, which is set in 1946 in the wake of World War II, the story follows the fates of two very different families that collide while struggling to make their dreams come true in the Mississippi Delta. When two celebrated soldiers return home, their unlikely friendship complicates the already fraught relationship between the families.




The official Sundance synopsis reads: Set in the post–World War II South, the story follows two families who are pitted against a barbaric social hierarchy and an unrelenting landscape as they simultaneously fight the battle at home and the battle abroad. This epic pioneer story is about friendship, heritage and the unending struggle for and against the land.

The film stars Carey Mulligan, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan, Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jonathan Banks.

Its Sundance premiere was met with heavy praise from critics and audiences alike, with some already considering it as a potential Oscar contender for 2018; although Netflix has yet to set a release date for it, which we expect will include both a theatrical and streaming release, simultaneously, as Netflix has done with other feature film acquisitions it’s made in recent years.

The film was also the 2017 recipient of the Dolby Family Sound Fellowship.

“Mudbound” is co-financed by Charles D. King’s MACRO and Zeal Media.

Zeal Media’s Cassian Elwes, Chris Lemole and Tim Zajaros; MACRO’s Founder & CEO Charles D. King and President of Production Kim Roth are producers, along with Sally Jo Effenson and Carl Effenson.

MACRO’s Senior Vice President of Production Poppy Hanks, Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman and Daniel Steinman; Kyle Tekiela and Jennifer Roth are executive producers.

Certainly an intriguing next project for Dee Rees, whose last work was HBO’s Bessie Smith telepic starring Queen Latifah – itself also a period piece, set in the early half of the 20th century.

No trailer for “Mudbound” at this time, but Sundance released a few stills; check them out above and below.

Deadline was first to announce the news of Netflix’s pickup of the film today: