Zoe Saldaña and Matthew McConaughey are in negotiations to headline Positano, a new Netflix feature currently in development with Oscar-winning filmmaker Daniel Roher set to direct.
Described as a romantic caper set in the picturesque Italian town of Positano, the film is being developed from a script by Alessandro Tanaka and Brian Gatewood. Working Title founders Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan are producing, with Amelia Granger executive producing alongside Tanaka and Gatewood.
The project quickly became one of the market’s more sought-after specs after Tanaka and Gatewood took it out with Roher attached to direct. Once the script landed with McConaughey and Saldaña—both of whom reportedly responded immediately—Netflix moved swiftly to secure the package, with plans to fast-track the film once deals are finalized.
The project marks a notable next step for McConaughey, who recently returned to acting after a brief hiatus with Apple’s The Lost Bus. The Toronto Film Festival premiere earned him strong critical praise for his portrayal of a school bus driver who saved children during the 2018 Paradise fires.
For Saldaña, Positano would extend her ongoing relationship with Netflix following her acclaimed performance in Emilia Pérez, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress earlier this year. She’ll next be seen in Avatar: Fire and Ash, opening worldwide this weekend.
Roher is best known for the 2022 documentary Navalny, which won the Oscar, BAFTA, and Sundance’s Festival Favorite Award. Positano follows his narrative feature debut Tuner, a crime thriller starring Dustin Hoffman, Leo Woodall, and Havana Rose Liu, which premiered at Telluride and screened at TIFF to strong reviews.
More details on Positano are being kept under wraps—for now.