Netflix acquires Ricky Gervais movie for 2016

NEW YORK (AP) -- Netflix has acquired a feature film written and directed by Ricky Gervais to debut next year, adding to the streaming service's growing roster of original films.

The deal was announced Monday. In the satirical comedy, titled "Special Correspondents," Eric Bana plays a struggling radio journalist who files fake war reports from New York. Gervais, the creator of "The Office," also co-stars.

Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, called the film "the kind of great grown-up comedy that studios rarely make anymore."

Gervais, in a statement, called Sarandos "the new Godfather of entertainment" and said "he made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

Netflix also has made deals to premiere films from Adam Sandler and documentaries produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

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