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Alan Ritchson and Chris Morgan Team With Netflix on Untitled MotoGP Heist Thriller Under New First-Look Feature Deal
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Aug 3, 2:08 PM EDT

Alan Ritchson and Chris Morgan Team With Netflix on Untitled MotoGP Heist Thriller Under New First-Look Feature Deal

Netflix and the actor-producer, buoyed by the performance of his recent title War Machine, are expanding their collaboration with a long-term film agreement and a first project centered on MotoGP.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Netflix is moving to deepen its film partnership with Alan Ritchson by launching a new first-look feature deal and developing an untitled MotoGP heist thriller, according to Deadline. The project pairs Ritchson with Chris Morgan, known for writing in the Fast & Furious franchise, as the companies plan both near-term production and longer-range development under the agreement.

The deal follows what Deadline describes as the success of Ritchson’s recent Netflix film War Machine, which the publication points to as part of the impetus for extending the relationship. Deadline reports that Ritchson and Netflix have formed a creative partnership through his Dancing Skeleton production banner, setting the framework for future projects beyond the first announced title.

Deadline also reports that the MotoGP heist thriller will serve as the first project under the new pact. While specific plot details, production start dates, and casting beyond the attached creative leadership were not included in the report, the involvement of MotoGP provides the strongest confirmed premise for the new thriller concept, with Morgan writing or developing the screenplay and Ritchson attached as a central figure through his company and Netflix’s development pipeline.

The first-look structure typically means Netflix gets the initial opportunity to review projects developed under the arrangement before they go elsewhere, according to industry practice, but Deadline did not describe the contractual terms in detail. Instead, the publication characterized the agreement as long-term planning at Netflix, with Ritchson and the creative team working through Dancing Skeleton as part of the streamer’s broader feature strategy.

For Netflix, the announced initiative reflects a continued effort to build feature production around established on-screen talent and recognizable genre writers. For Ritchson, the reported extension indicates that his recent work on War Machine has translated into renewed development opportunities, with the actor now expanding from a single project to a recurring pipeline under a studio-like banner relationship.

Deadline did not name a release window or identify additional production partners, directors, or distribution specifics for the MotoGP heist thriller. It also did not state whether the project will remain untitled throughout development or whether additional scripts or sequels are being prepared under the same first-look umbrella, leaving those particulars to later updates as Netflix and the creative team proceed through development and production.

Why It Matters

  • The announcement indicates Netflix’s continued reliance on recognizable genre credentials and commercially tested feature collaborations.
  • A first-look arrangement can speed internal review and development decisions, affecting timelines for creators working through Dancing Skeleton.
  • A MotoGP-centered thriller adds motorsports visibility to mainstream streaming content, which can influence later genre and sports-adjacent production decisions.
  • The project’s next steps, including production, casting, and release scheduling, will determine how quickly Netflix converts the announced partnership into audience-facing programming.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Netflix and Alan Ritchson have formed a new first-look feature deal, according to Deadline.
  • Ritchson’s Dancing Skeleton production banner is described by Deadline as the vehicle for the partnership with Netflix.
  • Deadline reports an untitled MotoGP heist thriller as the first project under the pact.
  • Chris Morgan, associated with the Fast & Furious franchise as a writer, is reported by Deadline to be teaming on the new thriller.
  • Deadline links the expanded deal to the reported success of Ritchson’s Netflix film War Machine earlier this year.
Alan Ritchson and Chris Morgan Team With Netflix on Untitled MotoGP Heist Thriller Under New First-Look Feature Deal | The Apex Times