The future of cinema means a return to the studio system

Published October 19, 2021 11:56pm ET



After comedian Dave Chappelle released his final Netflix special to audience acclaim and critical pearl-clutching, the streaming giant did the unthinkable. Rather than cower to the mob incensed by Chappelle’s criticisms of transgender activism, Netflix stood by the star. The company’s chief executives not only publicly backed Chappelle, but they also temporarily suspended an employee who tweeted that the comedian “attacks the trans community.”

Netflix’s resolve in the face of toxic wokery is more than refreshing — it’s a signpost for a different era, namely Hollywood’s definitive return to the studio model of the 20th century.

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