Netflix Secures Global Rights to Joel Coen and Ethan Coen's Gothic Mystery Jack of Spades
Netflix has picked up worldwide distribution rights for Jack of Spades, a gothic mystery set in 1800s Scotland that reunites filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen.
Published 2 November 2026
Netflix Acquires Worldwide Distribution
Streaming giant Netflix has officially secured the global distribution rights for the upcoming cinematic project titled Jack of Spades. The acquisition guarantees that audiences around the world will have access to the film following its initial exhibition in cinemas.
The newly purchased feature is slated to receive a theatrical release window in the fall of 2027 before making its official streaming debut on the platform.
A Major Reunion for the Coen Brothers
The project serves as a significant creative reunion for acclaimed filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, marking their first major collaboration since their 2018 project The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. That previous endeavor also debuted on the same streaming service.
Joel Coen is taking the director's chair for the feature. The screenplay was written collaboratively by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Eleanor Catton, and Conor McPherson.
Setting and Plot Details
Transporting viewers to historical settings, the narrative is officially set in 1800s Scotland. The story itself is structured as a gothic mystery.
The film draws its source material from Frances Frederica Montrésor’s 1901 novel titled The Alien: A Story of Middle Age. Early reporting indicates that the plot involves a character who has returned from the dead.
Cast and Character Lineup
The ensemble cast assembled for the production features notable talent including Josh O'Connor, Patsy Ferran, Damian Lewis, and Lesley Manville.
Reports indicate that Patsy Ferran takes on a leading role in the feature, while Josh O'Connor portrays the individual who returns from the dead.
Behind the Camera and Production Team
Production duties for the feature are handled by a team consisting of Joel Coen, Robert Graf, Frances McDormand, Steven Rales, Graham Broadbent, and Pete Czernin, with Donald MacKinnon serving as executive producer.
The crew also features returning collaborators for Joel Coen, including cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel and composer Carter Burwell, who previously worked together on Inside Llewyn Davis.
Previous Independent Ventures
This upcoming picture counts as Joel Coen's second independent directorial venture outside of his joint efforts with Ethan Coen. His previous solo outing was 2021's The Tragedy of Macbeth.
The 2021 Shakespearean adaptation received a limited theatrical release before launching on Apple TV, with cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel earning an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography.
News Overview
Netflix has acquired the global distribution rights for Jack of Spades, a gothic mystery directed by Joel Coen and co-written with Ethan Coen, Eleanor Catton, and Conor McPherson. The film stars Josh O'Connor, Patsy Ferran, Damian Lewis, and Lesley Manville, and is scheduled for a theatrical release in fall 2027 before streaming.
Based on a 1901 novel, the project marks a major creative reunion for the Coen brothers following their 2018 work together.
Key facts
- Joel Coen is directing Jack of Spades
- Ethan Coen co-wrote the screenplay alongside Joel Coen, Eleanor Catton, and Conor McPherson
- The film is set in 1800s Scotland and is a gothic mystery
- Netflix acquired the global distribution rights
- The film will be released theatrically in fall 2027 before streaming
- The cast includes Josh O'Connor, Patsy Ferran, Damian Lewis, and Lesley Manville
- The story is based on Frances Frederica Montrésor’s 1901 novel The Alien: A Story of Middle Age
- Bruno Delbonnel is the cinematographer and Carter Burwell is the composer
- Producers include Joel Coen, Robert Graf, Frances McDormand, Steven Rales, Graham Broadbent, and Pete Czernin
- Donald MacKinnon serves as executive producer