Netflix is taking its next major step towards the cinematic arena.
The company announced the release dates for their first set of original feature films on Tuesday. Netflix's first film to debut will be Cary Fukunaga's ("True Detective") drama "Beasts of No Nation" starring Idris Elba, which will be released worldwide on Netflix and in select U.S. theaters on Oct. 16. The film, based on Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala's 2005 novel of the same name, will follow Agu, a child soldier separated from his family during a civil war in an African country.
Following Fukunaga's drama will be "The Ridiculous Six," the first of Adam Sandler's four films for Netflix. The comedy-western, which faced some controversy earlier this year, will star Sandler alongside Terry Crews ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine"), Jorge Garcia, Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider, Luke Wilson and Nick Nolte, and be helmed by "The Wedding Singer" director Frank Coraci. The film will be released on Dec. 11 exclusively to Netflix subscribers.
Fans eager for the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" sequel should clear their calendars in early 2016. While Netflix initially announced it would release the sequel, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend," this August, the film has been pushed back to early next year when it will be released globally on Netflix and theatrically in China and in IMAX theaters. Based on Wang Dulu's novel Iron Knight, Silver Vase, the movie will be directed by legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping ("The Matrix," "Kill Bill"). Michelle Yeoh will reprise her role from the first film alongside new cast members Donnie Yen ("Ip Man"), Harry Shum Jr. ("Glee"), Jason Scott Lee, Roger Yuan, Eugenia Yuan and Natasha Liu Bordizzo.
After you get your Wuxia fix, Netflix will lighten things up with Judd Apatow's "Pee-wee’s Big Holiday." The film will find Paul Reubens' Pee-wee Herman meeting a mysterious stranger and taking his very first holiday. The movie premieres on Netflix in March 2016.
There's no news yet, however, of a release date for Netflix's "War Machine" starring Brad Pitt or their documentary partnership with Leonardo DiCaprio.
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