Ricky Gervais is continuing his relationship with Netflix, as the streaming service has acquired the U.S. rights to Gervais’ upcoming film “David Brent: Life on the Road.”
“This is exciting news and this is top secret, so I’m going to say it now: Netflix has bought out the rest of the world again, which is great for me, because I’d rather 20 million people see it than half a million people see it cinemas, do you know what I mean?” Gervais said on the “Opie and Jim Norton Show” on SiriusXM Tuesday. “Because I want to do tours off the back of it. So for me, it’s great.”
According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Entertainment One is handling distribution in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, as well as planning a theatrical release of the film.
The mockumentary film follows David Brent, the character Gervais made famous on the original British version of “The Office.”
Not only is Brent now a sales rep, he is also a singer-songwriter and is on tour with his band, Foregone Conclusion, trying to live out his dream to be a rock star, while once again being filmed for what he believes will be a “Where are they now?”-style documentary … similar to what Martin Scorsese did with The Rolling Stones.
Brent’s musical aspirations offer another way for him to torture his long-suffering colleagues as he jams in the office blasting out such memorable song lyrics as “there’s a party my trousers and everyone is coming.” Or “cumin,” as Brent seems to think it is spelled.
Written and directed by Gervais himself (original co-writer/director Stephen Merchant is not on board) and co-produced by Charlie Hanson, the film also stars Doc Brown, Andy Burrows and Australian pop star Peter Andre.
This marks the latest collaboration between Gervais and Netflix. The streaming giant previously acquired the comedy film “Special Correspondents” starring Gervais and Eric Bana. Netflix also acquired the US streaming rights to the “Derek” series finale special, which originally debuted in the UK over Christmas 2014.