Netflix Acquires Documentary About Jim Carreys Andy Kaufman Role

Netflixacquired Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton. The documentary film chroniclesJim Carreys immersive role as experimental comedian/performance artist Andy Kaufman in 1999 biopic,Man on the Moon.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Where the Wild Things Are, Her) produced the project alongside VICEs Danny Gabai and Brendan Fitzgerald. Director Chris Smith utilized roughly 100 hours of footage filmed on the set of Milos Formans acclaimed movie across a four-month span.

During the shoot, Carrey transformed into Kaufman. Surrounded by the late comics friends and family, the actor refused to break character, with both cast and crew referring to him by Andy.

Kaufmans former girlfriend, Lynne Margulies, and writing partner, Bob Zmuda, captured Jim & Andys intimate backstage moments on camera. Smith blends this vintage footage with Carreys recent reflections on the performance, for which he earned a Golden Globe. The actor looks back on his overall career arc, his and Kaufmans similar backgrounds and his experiences channeling both the avant-garde comic and his loud-mouthed lounge singer alter-ego character, Tony Clifton.

Carrey recently looked back on his somewhat psychotic method acting approach during a recent interview following the films premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Jim Carrey didnt exist at that time, he told The Hollywood Reporter, noting that he even remained in-character during a two-hour phone call with Ron Howard, his director on 2000 holiday film How the Grinch Stole Christmas.