Netflix will finance a pilot script from Oscar winning writer Robert Towne and director David Fincher for a TV series prequel to the feature "Chinatown" (1974), focusing on a young 'Jake Gittes' when he was an idealistic, young cop in the 'Chinatown' district of Los Angeles, before he became a disillusioned divorce detective:
"...'Chinatown', originally based on the 1908 'Owens River Valley' scandal, sees Gittes as a private investigator, who gave up on doing the right thing a long time ago...
"...back when he was a cop in 'Chinatown', now looking to make an easy buck off cheating couples.
"Chinatown is where evil reigns, and the law does as little as possible. As several characters say, you may think you know what's going on, but you don't.
"For Jake, and the other survivors of Chinatown, there are no dreams, just a sense of futility in the face of absolutely corrupt and unassailable power.
"In the end, his partner tries to lead him away, saying the only thing left to be said: 'Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown.'"
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Chinatown"...
