David Fincher is not renewing his exclusive deal with Netflix after six years, during which he directed three films including the upcoming "The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth." The acclaimed filmmaker, known for "Fight Club" and "The Social Network," is the latest in a string of major talents departing the streaming platform, following directors such as Noah Baumbach and producer Shawn Levy, who have recently signed deals with traditional studios. Unlike those peers, Fincher will not be committing to an exclusive agreement with another studio, though he could still work with Netflix on individual projects.

The "Cliff Booth" film, a spinoff of Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" starring Brad Pitt, will receive an unusual hybrid release: a theatrical debut in Imax cinemas on 25 November, followed by its arrival on Netflix on 23 December. This release strategy reflects Netflix's new approach to compete with traditional studios by offering filmmakers the option of theatrical distribution. The exodus of high-profile creators from Netflix underscores the streamer's ongoing challenges in retaining filmmaking talent amid competition from Warner Bros., Disney, and Paramount.