Director Brian Helgeland says Netflix's algorithm stopped a possible sequel to 'A Knight's Tale,' the 2001 movie with Heath Ledger, from happening.
The writer-director of the original film told Sony that Netflix seemed interested in making the sequel into a Netflix movie. Inverse In an interview, he said Netflix tested the sequel idea through its algorithms and they said it wouldn't be successful.
The director was surprised because 'A Knight's Tale' keeps getting more popular every year.
Helgeland had an idea for a pirate sequel right after the first film wrapped, involving a plot with characters being captured by pirates.
It revolved around Count Adhemar kidnapping Jocelyn and taking her to Constantinople. They become galley slaves after their boat is captured by pirates, and there's a prisoner with a treasure map tattooed on his back.
However, Sony wasn't interested at the time.
Cast members suggested continuing the film without Heath Ledger by focusing on his character's daughter, according to Helgeland.
The idea involved William having a teenage daughter who wants to joust but is not allowed because she's a woman. She disguises herself as a man to learn from a group who agree to teach her.
Sony executives were interested in the project until they handed it to the Netflix algorithm, said Helgeland.
Screenwriter Brenden Gallagher pointed out that blaming analytics instead of executives may be the new way to reject a project.
Gallagher commented that a screenwriter was told the film didn't move forward because of the algorithm, but he doubts the accuracy of such decisions.
