‘Penguin Bloom’ With Naomi Watts Picked Up by Netflix

Netflix has acquired the North American rights to “Penguin Bloom,” a drama based mostly on a real story and starring Naomi Watts that premiered at this yr’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Netflix additionally snagged rights within the UK, France and choose international locations in Asia, although not worldwide, and the movie will debut on the platform on Jan. 27.

Glendyn Ivin directs the movie that additionally stars Andrew Lincoln, Jacki Weaver and Rachel House. Watts stars in “Penguin Bloom” as Samantha Bloom, who in actual life was an energetic outdoors-woman of a mother of three who turned paralyzed from the chest down after a fall and located solace in a wild magpie that her youngsters named Penguin. The movie appears to be like at her street to restoration and acceptance of her new self.

Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps wrote the screenplay based mostly on the e book by Sam Bloom’s husband Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive.

Emma Cooper, Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson and Naomi Watts produced the movie. “Penguin Bloom” is a manufacturing of Screen Australia Presents in Association with Endeavor Content Roadshow Films and Create NSW A Made Up Stories, Jam Tart Films, and Broadtalk Production.

Sonia Amoroso, George Kekeli, Meryl Metni, Ricci Swart, Sam Bloom, Cameron Bloom, Bradley Trevor Greive, Joel Pearlman, Edwina Waddy and Jill Bilcock are govt producers.

“We all fell in love with the life-affirming nature of Sam’s story and her undeniable spirit. The emotional journey she and her family go on after Penguin enters their lives is unforgettable. We have a wonderful partner in Netflix and we’re delighted they will be bringing ‘Penguin Bloom’ to audiences around the world,” the producers mentioned in an announcement.

Variety first reported the sale.