An Epochal Netflix Open Letter: Studio Frustration Pushes Equipe de France to Release Kylian Mbappé
Paris, April 14, 2025 — In a stunning development that has rippled through the football and entertainment worlds alike, Netflix has published a dramatic open letter addressed to the head coach of the French national team, demanding the release of Kylian Mbappé from international duty — and the coach has complied.
The letter, titled “For the Love of the Game… and the Screen,” was released early this morning through Netflix’s official media channels. Citing creative frustrations and a stalled production schedule, the streaming giant claimed that Mbappé’s prolonged absence from their Paris-based studio had caused mounting tension and financial loss.
“We understand and respect the power of football,” the letter begins. “But when a global icon like Kylian Mbappé commits to a vision that transcends sport — a cinematic story that speaks to the youth of France and the world — that commitment must be honored.”
Sources close to the production say that the Netflix original, working title “Beyond 10: The Mbappé Story,” is a hybrid drama-documentary featuring never-before-seen footage and fictionalized scenes. With Mbappé locked into pre-Euro 2025 preparations under head coach Didier Deschamps, studio execs grew increasingly impatient, with one insider saying, “He missed three critical shoot days. Everyone was annoyed — from the director to the lighting crew.”
The open letter appears to have tipped the balance. Just hours after its publication, Coach Deschamps held a brief press conference.
“With full respect to the commitments our players hold beyond the pitch, and in recognition of the impact this project may have, we have agreed to temporarily release Kylian to return to Paris and finish his work,” he stated. “He will rejoin the squad ahead of our next fixture.”
Reactions across social media were swift and divided. Some fans accused Mbappé of prioritizing Hollywood over country, while others praised him for balancing sport and cultural influence.
Mbappé, for his part, posted a single cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter):
“Sometimes the story is bigger than the game.”
As the world watches this unprecedented intersection of cinema and sport unfold, one thing is clear: Kylian Mbappé is playing on a stage bigger than any stadium — and now, with Netflix’s help, that spotlight just got brighter.
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