Summary
Netflix produced an originalscience fictionfilm starring Halle Berry, which finished filming but was later shelved indefinitely, meaning audiences will never get to see it. There are notorious cases of nearly finished films that have been withheld for various reasons, like Jerry Lewis’The Day the Clown Criedfrom 1972, which remains unreleased to this day. The plot and eventual content saw it deemed unreleasable because it centers on an imprisoned German clown who is used to help lure Jewish children into gas chambers during the Holocaust, which is a complicated narrative to navigate.
Thanks to Warner Bros.' spotty accounting over the last few years, other notable titles have been shelved as tax write-offs, likeBatgirl, which was well into post-production, andScoob! Holiday Haunt, a prequel to 2020’sScoob!. Some movies were able to escape the chopping block, like theLooney TunesfilmCoyote vs. Acme, which recently found new life when Warner Bros. sold the rights. However, Netflix’sThe Mothershipappears to be dead in the water, with sci-fi audiences unlikely ever to get a chance to see the film, despite it having completed principal photography.
What Is Netflix’s Sci-Fi Flick Starring Halle Berry,The Mothership, About?
The Mothershipwent into production in 2021, with writer-director Matt Charman at the helm. Charman had previously co-written Steven Spielberg’sBridge of Spiesand the Richard Madden-starringOasis.The Mothershipwas meant to be his directorial debut, with a cast that included Berry, Molly Parker, John Ortiz, and Omari Hardwick. The film was intended to hit the streaming service in 2022, with a few seconds of footage included in Netflix’s 2022 Movie Preview, but it, of course, was never meant to be.
The Mothershipsees Berry in the lead role as a rural farmer and mother whose life is upended in harrowing ways when her husband is abducted by aliens. Following his abduction, Berry and her children discover an alien artifact on their property, which spurs their search for the family patriarch, with new clues leading them to his potential whereabouts.The Mothershipwas poised to explorefamiliar science fiction conceptswith an eye toward mystery and family drama. It missed its original release window, with Netflix putting the final nail in the coffin with its cancellation in 2024.
Why Did Netflix Ultimately Decide To ShelveThe Mothership?
WhenThe Mothershipwas officially put on the shelf, Netflix gave the often-overused excuse of creative differences, but there may have been more at play. The film was well into post-production and experienced numerous delays, causing its intended release date to be pushed back. However,The Hollywood Reporteruncovered more details surrounding the film’s troubled production, which reportedly faced difficulties due to COVID-19 filming restrictions and numerous rewrites that continually changed the script. There was also new leadership at Netflix who allegedly didn’t share the same fervor for the film as former producers, spelling potential doom for the hectic production.
However,The Mothership’sdeath knell may have come from the child actors in the film, though it was through no fault of their own. As post-production eventually spanned years, the young actors had aged out of their roles, looking far older than when principal photography was completed, which posed a major conundrum when the studio wanted reshoots. While reshoots are standard for most productions, Netflix had already invested an alleged $40 million in the movie. The necessary reshoots were likely to inflate the budget beyond levels they deemed financially viable, as they would probably have needed to digitally de-age the children or completely refilm all their scenes with new actors.
WillThe MothershipEver Be Released Or Is It Doomed To Be Forgotten To Time?
Given thatThe Mothershipnever completed post-production, the film is reportedly in an unreleasable state. Netflix likely used the canceled film as a tax write-off, which may make the footage unusable due to legal restrictions, the same reason Warner Bros.‘Batgirlfilm can never see the lightof day. ForThe Mothershipto be released, the film would likely start from scratch, reshooting the entire film from the ground up. However, even then, the rights to the film would still need to be sorted out, avoiding any potential tax and legal issues. A new cast and team of creatives might even be put in place to bring the film to fruition, if it ever pushes forward again, though, that seems unlikely.
Charmin has not directed anything sinceThe Mothershipwas shelved, possibly leaving a stain on his directing career. However, he continues to find success in writing, having co-authored the 2024 filmKiller Heatstarring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Berry has also reteamed with Netflix, starring in the action filmThe Unionalongside Mark Wahlberg. Still, forThe Mothershipto live again, it would require substantial financial backing, which would be hard to come by, given the film’s troubled history. Despite having completed principal photography, Berry’sThe Mothershipis one science fiction film that audiences are unlikely ever to get the opportunity to see.
