Additional Coverage:
- Netflix paid $55 million for a ‘visionary’ sci-fi epic that was never finished. We saw a glimpse of it at the director’s criminal trial. (businessinsider.com)
Netflix’s “White Horse” Saga: From Sci-Fi Dream to Fraud Conviction
What began as a “stunning” sci-fi vision for Netflix executives has culminated in a federal fraud conviction for director Carl Rinsch. His ambitious project, “White Horse,” which secured tens of millions in funding from the streaming giant, ultimately never saw the light of day as a finished series. Instead, it became the centerpiece of a criminal trial where Rinsch was found guilty of defrauding Netflix by misappropriating an $11 million investment for personal luxury spending.
In 2018, Netflix was captivated by Rinsch’s preliminary footage and script for “White Horse,” a series depicting a world where artificially created “Organic Intelligence” beings form their own societies. Cindy Holland, then head of original content for Netflix, testified that the material was “stunning” and “really impressive,” prompting the company to greenlight the project with an initial investment of $44 million for 13 episodes.
However, the production encountered significant hurdles. Prosecutors argued that Rinsch “abandoned” the project in late 2019 after exhausting his initial budget. In March 2020, Netflix provided an additional $11 million to complete “White Horse,” a sum the jury determined Rinsch diverted for personal use, including the purchase of multiple Rolls-Royces.
Throughout the trial, the public gained rare glimpses into the mysterious project that had consumed Netflix’s resources. Evidentiary material included the initial six episodes Rinsch created, showcasing a futuristic world and complex narrative that impressed executives like Peter Friedlander, who described the visuals as “something that I had never seen before.” Rinsch, a protégé of director Ridley Scott, envisioned “White Horse” as a potential franchise on par with “Star Wars” or “Game of Thrones.”
Rinsch’s defense team contended that the director continued working on the project and believed the $11 million was intended to reimburse him for prior cost overruns. They presented concept art for future seasons, including architectural and costume designs for scenes Rinsch planned to film in a castle in Vienna. Rinsch testified that Netflix pulled the plug on “White Horse” before these plans could materialize.
However, prosecutors countered that Rinsch was contractually obligated to spend the entire $11 million on completing the first season. Assistant US Attorney David Markewitz highlighted that Rinsch purchased the Rolls-Royces under his own name years after he had planned to shoot the “Calvacade” scenes they were supposedly for, calling the castle down payment “a $30,000 down payment on an $11 million fraud.”
The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, delivering a guilty verdict on all counts. The “White Horse” saga stands as a cautionary tale in the high-stakes world of Hollywood production, highlighting the fine line between creative ambition and financial accountability.