'Monsanto' Netflix Legal Drama Starring Jonathan Bailey and Laura Dern: Everything We Know So Far

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Jonathan Bailey, Anthony Mackie, and Laura Dern will star in Netflix’s legal drama film, Monsanto. Filming is gearing up to begin in Germany on the underdog story. Here’s everything we know so far about Monsanto on Netflix.

Monsanto is an upcoming Netflix Original legal drama movie directed and co-written by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side), based on the real-life legal case between the chemical giant Monsanto and groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson. Ned Benson, Alexandra Duparc, and Michael Wisner are the writers alongside Hancock. Netflix acquired the rights to the film in a massive deal valued at $34 million.

The film’s executive producers are Philip Schulz-Deyle and Moritz Borman. Producers include Eric Kopeloff and Jon Levin, alongside Adam McKay and Kevin Messick for HyperObject Industries. Munich-based KrautPack Entertainment is producing from the German side, while Onda Entertainment is the American co-production partner.

What is the plot of Monsanto?

The synopsis for Monsanto has been sourced from Deadline:

“Monsanto tells the true story of young, untried attorney Brent Wisner (Bailey), who takes on a seemingly insurmountable case against the giant U.S. chemical company Monsanto on behalf of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson (Mackie) who used Monsanto’s best-known product Roundup, a wildly financially successful weed and grass pesticide killer, as part of his job as a high school groundskeeper. During the trial, Dr. Melinda Rogers (Dern), the chief toxicologist of the Monsanto Company, testifies with certainty that Roundup is safe.”

Who are the cast members of Monsanto?

We have three confirmed lead actors for Monsanto: Jonathan Bailey, Laura Dern, and Anthony Mackie. (Note: Glen Powell was originally attached to star as Brent Wisner but departed the project prior to production).

Jonathan Bailey plays Brent Wisner. Bailey steps in to replace Powell and is currently one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. He is best known to Netflix subscribers for his fan-favorite role as Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton. He has also received widespread acclaim for his Emmy-winning turn in Fellow Travelers and stars in Universal’s two-part Wicked movie adaptation.

Anthony Mackie plays Dewayne ‘Lee’ Johnson. Mackie is undoubtedly no stranger to Netflix, having starred in multiple films for the streaming service, including Io, Point Blank, Outside the Wire, The Woman in the Window, We Have a Ghost, and The Electric State. Outside of Netflix, he is most well-known for his role as Sam Wilson, aka Falcon/Captain America.
Mackie previously shared his excitement about the project:

“These days stories about the ‘little guy’ taking on huge institutions seem few and far between, both in real life and on the big screen. So, when a story as riveting and inspiring as this one shows up on our desks, we get excited. Why? Because people love and need these movies. They always have and always will. Erin Brockovich, Silkwood, It’s a Wonderful Life, Spotlight, 12 Angry Men, Moneyball, Norma Rae … I legitimately think I can list 200 wildly successful and beloved films about real people standing up against overwhelming odds with only fairness and truth on their side. So let’s make Number 201.”

Laura Dern plays Dr. Melinda Rogers. The actress is also no stranger to Netflix, having starred in films such as Marriage Story, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She also starred in the romantic drama Lonely Planet and will star in Noah Baumbach’s next Netflix film, Jay Kelly. She was also the voice of Sue Murphy in Bill Burr’s adult animated series F is for Family.
Dern shared her thoughts, too:

“I’ve loved my collaborations with John Lee and look forward to working with him again. There couldn’t be a more vital story to be a part of.”

What is the production status of Monsanto?

After a period of quiet development (largely due to scheduling conflicts that ultimately led to Glen Powell’s departure from the film), production on Monsanto is officially moving forward!

As of April 2026, director John Lee Hancock is gearing up to shoot the courtroom drama in Bavaria, Germany.

The move overseas was recently supported by the regional film fund FFF Bayern (via Deadline), which backed the international co-production with 500,000 euros ($589,000). The FFF Film Commission has reportedly been assisting the crew with their search for locations. Additionally, Academy Award-nominated cinematographer John Schwartzman (Seabiscuit, Jurassic World) has boarded the project.

When is Monsanto coming to Netflix?

Netflix has yet to announce an official release date for Monsanto. Given that filming is kicking off in Germany in mid-2026, it will likely be in post-production for the remainder of the year.

Because of this, we expect we’ll be waiting until sometime in 2027 for the release of Monsanto on Netflix.

Are you looking forward to watching Monsanto on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!