Netflix Picks Up John David Washington Thriller “Born To Be Murdered”

Actor John David Washington has scored a major win with Netflix picking up his thriller “Born to Be Murdered,” which he also stars in.

The film was shot in Greece in 2019 and centers around a vacationing couple, played by Washington and Alicia Vikander, who fall victim to a conspiracy theory that quickly turns violent. While there is no definitive date, the film will make its U.S. debut on the streaming service sometime next year. 

Luca Guadagnino produced the film with Marco Morabito and Frenesy Film. Francesco Melzi d’Eril and Gabriele Moratti for MeMo also produced.  Rodrigo Teixeira exec produced for RT Features. The film marks the English-language directorial debut for Ferdinando Cito Filomarino.

This is just Washington’s latest victory with the streaming giant.  In September, Netflix acquired “Malcolm & Marie,” the romantic drama starring the Golden Globe nominated actor and Zendaya. They reportedly paid around $30 million for the film. 

Since his breakout role in Spike Lee’s 2018 “BlaKkKlansman,” Washington has proved himself to be an elite actor capable of thriving outside the shadow of his legendary father, Denzel Washington.

Back in August, Washington told Mr. Porter that he would hide who his father was during auditions so that he could maintain a sense of “normalcy.”

“I saw how people changed when they found out who my father was. I used to lie, saying he was a construction worker or in jail, just to have some sense of normalcy. I felt like there was no way people would take me seriously, even if I was good. They would always judge me. So I hid who my father was. I guess I was protecting myself.”