Netflix is doubling down on high-concept action content with this nuclear weapons thriller, showcasing their commitment to premium talent like Dylan Clark and Jaume Collet-Serra after the massive success of Carry-On.
Multiple studios were circling this spec in a bidding war, which means the Marentette brothers just made themselves very valuable. Their previous pitch Wheels of War with Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society already put them on the map — now they're playing in Netflix's big leagues.
Netflix's 2024 action thriller Carry-On ranks as their third-most-watched original feature ever, starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman. Dylan Clark is also producing The Batman: Part II for Warner Bros., releasing theatrically in 2027, with the first film grossing over $770 million worldwide.
When a spec script about nuclear weapons and Air Force One going down attracts this kind of feeding frenzy, you know someone's struck gold. The Marentette brothers just went from promising upstarts to must-have talent — and Netflix clearly wasn't about to let this one slip away.
Netflix has acquired the spec script for Run the Football, a high-stakes nuclear weapons thriller that sources describe as centering on Air Force One going down — and the streaming giant wasn't alone in wanting it. The project was set up in what THR describes as a competitive situation with numerous interested producers fighting to attach themselves to this property. Dylan Clark and Brian Williams are producing through Dylan Clark Productions, while Jaume Collet-Serra and Max Jacoby bring the project aboard via Jadis Collective.
This is a reunion of sorts — Clark, Williams, and Collet-Serra previously collaborated on Netflix's 2024 action thriller Carry-On, which starred Taron Egerton as an inexperienced TSA agent thrust into a Christmas Eve battle of wits with Jason Bateman's mysterious traveler. The film, also featuring Sofia Carson and Danielle Deadwyler, ranks as Netflix's third-most-watched original feature ever. Collet-Serra directed while executive producing, Clark served as producer, and Williams held an executive producer credit.
The writers behind Run the Football are brothers Josh Marentette and Spencer Marentette, Canadian talents who are rapidly building impressive résumés in Hollywood. Before this latest acquisition, they sold their original action pitch Wheels of War to Amazon with Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society attached to produce.
That connection to Jordan — one of the most sought-after producers and stars in the industry — signals these brothers have serious access and talent. Clark continues his dominant streak as a go-to producer for major franchises. He returns as producer on Matt Reeves' forthcoming The Batman: Part II, set for Warner Bros. theatrical release in 2027.
Robert Pattinson stars as the titular DC Comics superhero in the franchise that saw its 2022 predecessor surpass $770 million worldwide at the box office. With Clark's fingerprints on both Run the Football and The Batman sequel, he's positioning himself as the bridge between Netflix's streaming ambitions and traditional blockbuster theatrical releases. The Marentettes are represented by UTA and Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, giving them representation with deep Hollywood connections. Plot details for Run the Football remain under wraps — but given that we're talking nuclear weapons and Air Force One taking a nosedive, you can bet this one will land with serious impact when it reaches production.
