The entertainment industry has long been influenced by the whims of algorithms, with Netflix being one of the most prominent users of this technology. Director Brian Helgeland recently revealed that Netflix rejected his pitch for a sequel to the 2001 film ‘A Knight’s Tale’ based on its algorithm’s prediction that it would not be successful.
Helgeland’s pitch involved William, the film’s protagonist, having passed away during a war, leaving behind a teenage daughter who wants to joust. The daughter disguises herself as a man to pursue her passion, seeking guidance from William’s former companions.
While Netflix claims that algorithms don’t directly decide what content is produced, they do heavily influence decision-making. Netflix’s head of content, Bela Bajaria, has argued that algorithms provide valuable insights, but they are not the sole determining factor.
However, Netflix also uses algorithms to evaluate the viability of content ideas. A 2020 blog post outlined how Netflix engineers use machine learning to identify similar titles and predict audience size. This data helps content decision-makers assess the potential success of new projects.
The reliance on algorithms has raised concerns about the suppression of creative ideas and the prioritization of metrics over artistic merit. Helgeland’s experience with Netflix highlights the potential consequences of this data-driven approach to filmmaking.
The rejection of the ‘A Knight’s Tale’ sequel is not an isolated incident. Helgeland revealed that Sony had also rejected a previous sequel idea set as a pirate film. The future of sequels and creative ideas in general remains uncertain in an industry increasingly dominated by algorithms.
