Ferraris, cryptocurrency and Keanu Reeves: These are a few components of the hair-raising story of Conquest. We’ll never see the science fiction series, but the story of its non-creation reads more excitingly than most scripts. It was recently exposed in a new report from the New York Times.
When the 47 Ronin director pitches a sci-fi series to Netflix
The sci-fi project went back to Carl Rinsch, who made his directorial debut with the fantasy film 47 Ronin in 2013. The result was probably leading actor Keanu Reeves’ biggest financial failure. Of course, flops, even if they are debuts, should not determine the future of filmmakers. Many canonized masterpieces crashed at the box office upon release. Nevertheless, it is surprising that the streaming service Netflix entrusted the relatively inexperienced director with millions for a new science fiction series. Because not a single episode of Conquest was produced.
Universal
47 Ronin
But one after anonther. According to the New York Times, Rinsch set about his new project after 47 Ronin: The series, initially called White Horse and later Conquest, was supposed to be about a genius who breeds a human-like species. First she comes to the aid of humanity, then her “true nature” leads to conflict.
What Keanu Reeves has to do with the Netflix series
According to the report, Rinsch wanted to pitch the project to several platforms. For this, among other things, he received one Cash injection from its 47 Ronin leading man Keanu Reeves. Rinsch made pitch videos and Netflix struck. That was 2018. Rinsch was given unlimited creative control and a sizable budget. By the time Netflix pulled the plug three years later, the streaming service had burned through over $55 million, according to the Times. So where was the money?
Universal
47 Ronin
Filming took place in South America, but according to those involved, under chaotic circumstances. Carl Rinsch increasingly exhibited erratic behavior on set and even accused his wife, Gabriela Rosés Bentancor, of wanting to have him killed.
Rosés eventually filed for divorce, and it is from this litigation that some of the information in the New York Times report comes. As a result, the director invested part of the Netflix budget in the stock market, invested in cryptocurrency and spent millions on Rolls-Royce cars and similar luxury products.
Today, five years after Netflix gave the science fiction series the green light, the only people who benefit are the lawyers. Conquest, the series that was supposed to create a universe à la Stranger Things, with spin-off series and everything, is dead. Carl Rinsch’s reputation is likely to be ruined and Netflix is on a budget.