Netflix, David Fincher, Robert Towne plot Chinatown prequel series

David Fincher and original Chinatown screenwriter Robert Towne are plotting a prequel series at Netflix, according to reports.

The series will centre on the life of the younger J.J. Gittes – the private investigator portrayed by Jack Nicholson in Roman Polanski’s 1974 classic who stumbles upon a huge web of corruption.

The late Robert Evans produced Chinatown, which also starred Faye Dunaway. The film was nominated for 11 Oscars and won a single one for Towne’s original screenplay.

Towne reunited with Nicholson on 1990 sequel The Two Jakes, which the latter directed.

Fincher collaborated with Netflix on its breakout original TV show House Of Cards and the more recent crime series, Mindhunter.

Netflix had not commented at time of writing.