Netflix Secures Star-Studded Legal Drama ‘Monsanto’

Glen Powell, Anthony Mackie, and Laura Dern Headline John Lee Hancock’s Fact-Based Film

Netflix has acquired the legal drama “Monsanto,” a film directed by John Lee Hancock, known for “The Blind Side.” The movie features an impressive cast including Glen Powell, Anthony Mackie, and Laura Dern. This high-profile project was secured at this year’s Cannes film market.

Hancock directs from a script he co-wrote with Michael Wisner, Alexandra Duparc, and Ned Benson. The film’s producers are Moritz Borman, Eric Kopeloff, Jon Levin, Philip Schulz-Deyle, Adam McKay, and Kevin Messick.

“Monsanto” tells the true story of Brent Wisner (played by Powell), a novice attorney who takes on the chemical giant Monsanto. He represents Dewayne “Lee” Johnson (portrayed by Mackie), a groundskeeper who used Monsanto’s weed-killer, Roundup. Dern stars as Dr. Melinda Rogers, Monsanto’s chief toxicologist.

AA Media Finance managed the U.S. rights and brokered the deal for the filmmakers, while Rocket Science handled international rights and introduced the film at Cannes.

Glen Powell, who rose to fame with Sony’s romantic comedy “Anyone but You” alongside Sydney Sweeney, is set to appear this summer in Netflix’s “Hit Man” and Universal’s “Twisters.” Anthony Mackie recently led the Peacock series “Twisted Metal” and will star in Disney’s 2025 “Captain America: Brave New World.” Laura Dern, an Oscar winner for “Marriage Story,” was both star and executive producer for Apple TV+ series “Palm Royale” and appeared in Universal’s “Jurassic World Dominion.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Powell reflected on his recent successes, stating, “I’ve worked really hard for a long time, putting things together and just trying to get them in shape enough for people to give a shit. Then finally you get to a place where people are just like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it!’ and suddenly you’re playing musical chairs with yourself. You’re like, ‘Wait, do I sit in all these chairs right now?’”