SonOfSharknado
Banned
I wonder what TTL Lindsay Ellis is going to have to say about the Live-action Beauty and the Beast.
Cobain Continues Redone: A Kurt Cobain Survives Timeline
- Thread starter TheGuyWhoHeartsHistory
- Start date
(I don't quite know about that, other than the fact that regarding the Nostalgia Critic/Channel Awesome world, ITTL, JewWario is not harbored and his reputation protected by those who know, and CA isn't run so incompetently and nastily. Doesn't prevent Doug Walker from being a shockingly ignorant and unperceptive reviewer that refuses to hone his craft or appreciate that his shtick has grown old, or Lindsay's overanalysis bordering on meeting the meeting the "SJW" meme (which of course, I despise the term, because very few people remotely match this description, and the word "bully" would suit better) along with a surprising strand confusing contradictory stances about social beliefs in the manner of Jaclyn Glenn, but the CA community stands)
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(I don't know what exactly happens there, especially with the man being less hateable here)
April 20, 2015-By this point all full regulations of the Manchin-Toomey Act, proposed after the Aurora shooting, go into effect, on the 16th anniversary of Columbine. The sweeping gun control reforms reinstate the assault weapons ban, limit magazine sizes, strengthen background check processes, crack down on 3D printing of firearms, and finally move to close the gun show loophole.
April 24, 2015-The conservative-leaning YouTube substitute site TruthTube experiences its biggest rise in users and viewership during its run, as more and more users post material denigrating Hillary Clinton for her run and propping up Donald Trump, Jr. as their chosen candidate.
April 28, 2015-Mixing of Boners is complete.
May 1, 2015-Avengers: Age of Ultron opens to largely positive reviews and manages to nab $1.4 million at the box office.
May 4, 2015-Last Action Hero II: Retirement Sucks has its premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre. When it opens six days later, it does considerably better than the 1993 original, with generally positive reviews and a healthy box office take, especially considering the competition it is up against. Variety references this in its review, saying, "Last time, lizards ate Arnold's lunch, as Jurassic Park rocketed to become the biggest success of the summer. But apparently, he can hold his own against Marvel's stable well enough."
May 9, 2015-Cobain begins to talk about the album and his support for the Clinton campaign, and how both are intertwined. "I have a sickening case of deja vu. Last time I felt like this, it was during the 2000 campaign, and seeing how Al Gore was the best choice for the White House, but a lot of different things were coming together to rob him of his rightful succession. When Bush took office, things went to hell. I've lived through that once, and I'm not going to let it happen again."
May 15, 2015-Mad Max: Fury Road opens to a rousing welcome. Critics universally agree that it brings the franchise roaring back to life, with Tom Hardy considered an able replacement for Mel Gibson and Theron's performance as Furiosa already an iconic character. and the film makes $430 million, especially after the release in China. Warners immediately greenlights George Miller's followup scripts, with the direct sequel, Mad Max: The Wasteland, first on the schedule.
May 20, 2015-Cobain and Theron add one more new face to the family, by adopting an African girl named August, with which they judge their family complete.
May 24, 2015-X-Men: Days of Future Past opens to impressive reviews and box office, with many stating that it seems that the "third installment curse" may be broken. James Mangold is now deep in production of one last film, using the "Old Man Logan" comic arc, intended as Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart's farewell to the franchise, and Deadpool is also coming down the pike, with Ryan Reynolds returning to the role he played (in an underutilized and mismanaged manner) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Lauren Shuler Donner also announces the development of two new X-Men-themed TV series, Legion and The Gifted.
April 20, 2015-By this point all full regulations of the Manchin-Toomey Act, proposed after the Aurora shooting, go into effect, on the 16th anniversary of Columbine. The sweeping gun control reforms reinstate the assault weapons ban, limit magazine sizes, strengthen background check processes, crack down on 3D printing of firearms, and finally move to close the gun show loophole.
April 24, 2015-The conservative-leaning YouTube substitute site TruthTube experiences its biggest rise in users and viewership during its run, as more and more users post material denigrating Hillary Clinton for her run and propping up Donald Trump, Jr. as their chosen candidate.
April 28, 2015-Mixing of Boners is complete.
May 1, 2015-Avengers: Age of Ultron opens to largely positive reviews and manages to nab $1.4 million at the box office.
May 4, 2015-Last Action Hero II: Retirement Sucks has its premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre. When it opens six days later, it does considerably better than the 1993 original, with generally positive reviews and a healthy box office take, especially considering the competition it is up against. Variety references this in its review, saying, "Last time, lizards ate Arnold's lunch, as Jurassic Park rocketed to become the biggest success of the summer. But apparently, he can hold his own against Marvel's stable well enough."
May 9, 2015-Cobain begins to talk about the album and his support for the Clinton campaign, and how both are intertwined. "I have a sickening case of deja vu. Last time I felt like this, it was during the 2000 campaign, and seeing how Al Gore was the best choice for the White House, but a lot of different things were coming together to rob him of his rightful succession. When Bush took office, things went to hell. I've lived through that once, and I'm not going to let it happen again."
May 15, 2015-Mad Max: Fury Road opens to a rousing welcome. Critics universally agree that it brings the franchise roaring back to life, with Tom Hardy considered an able replacement for Mel Gibson and Theron's performance as Furiosa already an iconic character. and the film makes $430 million, especially after the release in China. Warners immediately greenlights George Miller's followup scripts, with the direct sequel, Mad Max: The Wasteland, first on the schedule.
May 20, 2015-Cobain and Theron add one more new face to the family, by adopting an African girl named August, with which they judge their family complete.
May 24, 2015-X-Men: Days of Future Past opens to impressive reviews and box office, with many stating that it seems that the "third installment curse" may be broken. James Mangold is now deep in production of one last film, using the "Old Man Logan" comic arc, intended as Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart's farewell to the franchise, and Deadpool is also coming down the pike, with Ryan Reynolds returning to the role he played (in an underutilized and mismanaged manner) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Lauren Shuler Donner also announces the development of two new X-Men-themed TV series, Legion and The Gifted.
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May 28, 2015-Springbok announces several further projects. United Artists will release 2016's film The Edge of Seventeen, a coming-of-age comedy starring Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson, co-produced by Huayi Brothers Studios and Elizabeth Banks' Brownstone Productions. They are working with Disney on a sequel film, Alice Through the Looking Glass, which will be handled by James Bobin taking over as director and a new character, Time, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Steven Spielberg's next film, an adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG, which reunites him with E.T. scriptwriter Melissa Matheson, will be distributed directly by Walt Disney Pictures next year. Meanwhile, Paul Greengrass's next film, a 2017 biopic entitled Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back, based on the singer's best-selling 1999 autobiography, starring Chris Farley in the role, will be released by Universal, with Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment, Brownstone Productions and Allen Kovac's 10th Street Entertainment as co-producers. Springbok, New Line, Wes Craven and Robert Englund officially announce the new Elm Street film, A Nightmare on Elm Street: Perchance to Scream, which will come out in the fall of 2017, and Drew Barrymore has also been enlisted as a producer through her company, Flower Films. Martin Scorsese is working on a passion project of several decades, an adaptation of the novel Silence, focusing on Jesuit priests in Japan during the height of persecution against Christians. The film's script is by Scorsese and Jay Cocks, and features Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield as the main characters, Father Francisco Garupe and Father Sebastiao Rodrigues, and Liam Neeson as Father Cristovao Ferreira, the most famous apostate during this period. Paramount will release the film during Christmas 2016.
On the TV side, Westworld has been moved back to 2016, though it now has signed the likes of Ed Harris, Anthony Hopkins, Thandie Newton, Evan Rachel Wood and Jimmi Simpson; Springbok, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are creating new spin-off series entitled American Crime Story and Feud, both of which will debut in 2016, starting with the O.J. Simpson murder trial and the rivalry of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, respectively; they will partner with Amblin Television for a new CBS series in 2016 called American Gothic; and they are producing a 2016 Blockbuster Entertainment miniseries based on the video game series Assassin's Creed, starring Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons, with Regency Television, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Ubisoft Motion Pictures and 20th Century Fox Television co-producing.
May 31, 2015-Boners is released to a happy public. The album is critically praised and sells quite well in all formats.
June 5, 2015-Inuyasha: Time's Arrow releases to great reception and box office, with fans and non-fans of the original series definitely impressed. Love and Mercy also opens on this day, receiving largely positive reviews, especially for Paul Dano's performance as the young Brian Wilson, and the $10 million album makes $28.6 million during its run.
On the TV side, Westworld has been moved back to 2016, though it now has signed the likes of Ed Harris, Anthony Hopkins, Thandie Newton, Evan Rachel Wood and Jimmi Simpson; Springbok, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are creating new spin-off series entitled American Crime Story and Feud, both of which will debut in 2016, starting with the O.J. Simpson murder trial and the rivalry of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, respectively; they will partner with Amblin Television for a new CBS series in 2016 called American Gothic; and they are producing a 2016 Blockbuster Entertainment miniseries based on the video game series Assassin's Creed, starring Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons, with Regency Television, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Ubisoft Motion Pictures and 20th Century Fox Television co-producing.
May 31, 2015-Boners is released to a happy public. The album is critically praised and sells quite well in all formats.
June 5, 2015-Inuyasha: Time's Arrow releases to great reception and box office, with fans and non-fans of the original series definitely impressed. Love and Mercy also opens on this day, receiving largely positive reviews, especially for Paul Dano's performance as the young Brian Wilson, and the $10 million album makes $28.6 million during its run.
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June 10, 2015-Springbok announces the release of a tie-in FPS title for Alien: Awakening, on the release of the movie. After the success of Alien: Isolation last holiday season, there is considerable expectation that it will be quite impressive.
June 16, 2015-Frances Cobain releases her next album and lands a spot on several notable festivals.
June 20, 2015-Nirvana launches a North American tour to promote the new album.
June 25, 2015-The Batman opens to generally positive reviews and a box office run of $435 million.
June 16, 2015-Frances Cobain releases her next album and lands a spot on several notable festivals.
June 20, 2015-Nirvana launches a North American tour to promote the new album.
June 25, 2015-The Batman opens to generally positive reviews and a box office run of $435 million.
June 27, 2015-During a segment on Entertainment Tonight about the massive box office figures amassed this year, and how movies in crowded fields seem more capable of holding their own, Springbok's head of creative talent negotiation and contract signing, Michael Ovitz, explains the reason. "Everyone's marketing divisions are much more aggressive nowadays. Advertising even when you don't actually have to helps a lot, especially in getting awareness tracking numbers as high as you can. It also does no good for studios to simply give up on a film if they have a disappointing opening weekend. If you truly are going to treat every film the same, even if it's actually a dog, you still go out and sell your ass off. We only made $20 million at opening? Better put out new TV and Internet spots and exert pressure on the exhibitors to get behind the film and ensure they won't drop it, or at least not slash screening times. Does it always work? Of course not, but more often than not it does, and it makes all the difference in ensuring films don't get lost in the shuffle."
July 1, 2015-Springbok and David Fincher officially seal the deal for Mindhunter, complete with Fincher coming on as executive producer and directing the pilot and various other episodes. The show will premiere on Blockbuster Entertainment in 2017.
July 3, 2015-Details for Phase Three of the MCU continue to firm up, with the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther, brothers Joe and Anthony Russo taking on director duties for Captain America: Civil War, and the writing team of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who've done work for the Marvel TV slate, moving to handle films as well.
July 4, 2015-Nirvana's concert at the Klipsch Amptheatre in Bayfront Park in Miami is picketed by various right-leaning protesters, though the concert itself goes off without a hitch.
July 7, 2015-Jonestown premieres at TCL Chinese Theatre, three days before its opening. The film is universally praised by the critics and is another impressive box office hit. The script and direction are judged first-rate and bracing in its depiction of the events, while also with utmost sensitivity and respect, and the performances, especially those of Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise, are considered among the best in their respective careers.
July 13, 2015-Nirvana's concert at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis is called off due to a bomb threat. Though it turns out to be a hoax, the effect is still incredibly chilling.
July 17, 2015-Ant-Man opens as another impressive MCU installment, with positive reviews, especially considering it a welcome breath of fresh air to have not as much at stake, and a box office haul of $519.3 million, bringing Phase Two to a close.
July 21, 2015-While going over final preparations regarding the releases of Trail of Tears and Bridge of Spies over at Amblin Entertainment's offices, Steven Spielberg tells the Springbok contingent that though the Disney/DreamWorks pact has turned around considerably, especially with Springbok's releases for it, and appreciating that Trail will be the first major release outside the nonexclusive pact, it still is not quite enough for him, especially on a creative and organizational level. Thus, he wants to create another reorganization, a DreamWorks 4.0. Jennifer Todd is quite amenable to the idea, and discussions begin to be held over what such a prospect may look like.
July 23, 2015-The second Aqua Teen movie, Death Fighter, opens to brisk business by the fanbase and generally positive reviews.
July 26, 2015-Warners confirms that Matthew Vaughn is writing and directing a film entitled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, while Patty Jenkins has come on board for Wonder Woman.
August 1, 2015-Trail of Tears opens to great reviews, but a middling box office, as many consider the concept not commercial enough for this period in time.
August 6, 2015-Hamilton opens at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and becomes the latest in a historic trend of mega-musicals, a true revolution in musical theatre and Springbok's biggest commercial success to date. The cast recording album, a co-release by Exploitation Records and former partner/parent company Atlantic Records, also becomes a very hot item.
August 12, 2015-Promoters cancel Nirvana's performance at the Alamodome in San Antonio, citing protests against the band all over the state of Texas over the album and Cobain's comments about it and supporting Hillary Clinton's candidacy. Cobain mutters, "It's the Dixie Chicks all over again."
August 16, 2015-Death threats begin to be mailed to Cobain and Theron's various residences, as well as flooding Nirvana and Springbok's email addresses. Theron and Frances decided to shuttle the family between both her and Cobain's maternal lines for a while until the heat dies down.
August 21, 2015-The Justice Department is alerted to the potential of threats of terror attacks aimed at "liberal elites" being aided and abetted through TruthTube and new incarnations of old, previously defeated hate sites like Kiwi Farms, 4chan and Encyclopedia Dramatica. A preliminary investigation begins.
August 26, 2015-Nirvana arrives in New Orleans for two concerts to mark the tenth anniversary of Katrina and how far the city has bounced back. The first concert is held the following night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the next on the actual anniversary date at Six Flags New Orleans.
July 1, 2015-Springbok and David Fincher officially seal the deal for Mindhunter, complete with Fincher coming on as executive producer and directing the pilot and various other episodes. The show will premiere on Blockbuster Entertainment in 2017.
July 3, 2015-Details for Phase Three of the MCU continue to firm up, with the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther, brothers Joe and Anthony Russo taking on director duties for Captain America: Civil War, and the writing team of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who've done work for the Marvel TV slate, moving to handle films as well.
July 4, 2015-Nirvana's concert at the Klipsch Amptheatre in Bayfront Park in Miami is picketed by various right-leaning protesters, though the concert itself goes off without a hitch.
July 7, 2015-Jonestown premieres at TCL Chinese Theatre, three days before its opening. The film is universally praised by the critics and is another impressive box office hit. The script and direction are judged first-rate and bracing in its depiction of the events, while also with utmost sensitivity and respect, and the performances, especially those of Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise, are considered among the best in their respective careers.
July 13, 2015-Nirvana's concert at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis is called off due to a bomb threat. Though it turns out to be a hoax, the effect is still incredibly chilling.
July 17, 2015-Ant-Man opens as another impressive MCU installment, with positive reviews, especially considering it a welcome breath of fresh air to have not as much at stake, and a box office haul of $519.3 million, bringing Phase Two to a close.
July 21, 2015-While going over final preparations regarding the releases of Trail of Tears and Bridge of Spies over at Amblin Entertainment's offices, Steven Spielberg tells the Springbok contingent that though the Disney/DreamWorks pact has turned around considerably, especially with Springbok's releases for it, and appreciating that Trail will be the first major release outside the nonexclusive pact, it still is not quite enough for him, especially on a creative and organizational level. Thus, he wants to create another reorganization, a DreamWorks 4.0. Jennifer Todd is quite amenable to the idea, and discussions begin to be held over what such a prospect may look like.
July 23, 2015-The second Aqua Teen movie, Death Fighter, opens to brisk business by the fanbase and generally positive reviews.
July 26, 2015-Warners confirms that Matthew Vaughn is writing and directing a film entitled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, while Patty Jenkins has come on board for Wonder Woman.
August 1, 2015-Trail of Tears opens to great reviews, but a middling box office, as many consider the concept not commercial enough for this period in time.
August 6, 2015-Hamilton opens at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and becomes the latest in a historic trend of mega-musicals, a true revolution in musical theatre and Springbok's biggest commercial success to date. The cast recording album, a co-release by Exploitation Records and former partner/parent company Atlantic Records, also becomes a very hot item.
August 12, 2015-Promoters cancel Nirvana's performance at the Alamodome in San Antonio, citing protests against the band all over the state of Texas over the album and Cobain's comments about it and supporting Hillary Clinton's candidacy. Cobain mutters, "It's the Dixie Chicks all over again."
August 16, 2015-Death threats begin to be mailed to Cobain and Theron's various residences, as well as flooding Nirvana and Springbok's email addresses. Theron and Frances decided to shuttle the family between both her and Cobain's maternal lines for a while until the heat dies down.
August 21, 2015-The Justice Department is alerted to the potential of threats of terror attacks aimed at "liberal elites" being aided and abetted through TruthTube and new incarnations of old, previously defeated hate sites like Kiwi Farms, 4chan and Encyclopedia Dramatica. A preliminary investigation begins.
August 26, 2015-Nirvana arrives in New Orleans for two concerts to mark the tenth anniversary of Katrina and how far the city has bounced back. The first concert is held the following night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the next on the actual anniversary date at Six Flags New Orleans.
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August 31, 2015-Attempts to mail pipe bombs and even an anthrax hoax intended for Cobain and Theron are intercepted before reaching the intended targets, and Homeland Security are given an official heads up about the situation.
September 4, 2015-With increased security at the various homes and Springbok locations, the situation seems to have been managed.
September 8, 2015-Nirvana finishes the North American tour with two nights at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.
September 13, 2015-In an attempt to get away from the recent madness and take advantage of the brief pause between the end of the recent tour and the start of a Latin American jaunt, Cobain, Theron and the family head for a weeklong vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
September 15, 2015-The brand new Paris Accords, building on and improving upon the prior successes of the Kyoto Protocols and Copenhagen Agreements, are officially approved and signed, representing the entire world taking the next step in the push to combat climate change.
September 18, 2015-Black Mass opens to generally positive reviews and achieves a modest profit with a full box office run of $110 million.
September 22, 2015-Scream Queens premieres on the Fox channel. The first season is a roaring success, however the second season the following year is considered quite a disappointment, and Fox cancels the show afterwards.
September 26, 2015-The Latin American tour begins in Mexico City.
October 2, 2015-Long-held plans for the stage musical based on the Bat Out of Hell trilogy finally start to come to fruition, with a libretto by Jim Steinman, Barry Keating and Stuart Beattie officially locked down.
October 7, 2015-During Nirvana's concert at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, nine concertgoers are trampled to death. The news shakes the band considerably, and the European leg is postponed.
October 13, 2015-Cobain is hospitalized from exhaustion and stress, but seems to recover during his stay.
October 16, 2015-Bridge of Spies is released to an outstanding ovation, as it is lionized by the critics and makes $165 million.
October 23, 2015-Rejuvenated by the hospital stay, and the outpouring of flowers, letters and well-wishers, Nirvana does a brief series of surprise intimate gigs in clubs on the West Coast.
October 31, 2015-Ash vs Evil Dead premieres on Starz to ecstatic reception and ratings. Its five-season run manages to fulfill the everything planned, including using the planned merging of the narratives of Ash and Mia for seasons four and five.
September 4, 2015-With increased security at the various homes and Springbok locations, the situation seems to have been managed.
September 8, 2015-Nirvana finishes the North American tour with two nights at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.
September 13, 2015-In an attempt to get away from the recent madness and take advantage of the brief pause between the end of the recent tour and the start of a Latin American jaunt, Cobain, Theron and the family head for a weeklong vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
September 15, 2015-The brand new Paris Accords, building on and improving upon the prior successes of the Kyoto Protocols and Copenhagen Agreements, are officially approved and signed, representing the entire world taking the next step in the push to combat climate change.
September 18, 2015-Black Mass opens to generally positive reviews and achieves a modest profit with a full box office run of $110 million.
September 22, 2015-Scream Queens premieres on the Fox channel. The first season is a roaring success, however the second season the following year is considered quite a disappointment, and Fox cancels the show afterwards.
September 26, 2015-The Latin American tour begins in Mexico City.
October 2, 2015-Long-held plans for the stage musical based on the Bat Out of Hell trilogy finally start to come to fruition, with a libretto by Jim Steinman, Barry Keating and Stuart Beattie officially locked down.
October 7, 2015-During Nirvana's concert at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, nine concertgoers are trampled to death. The news shakes the band considerably, and the European leg is postponed.
October 13, 2015-Cobain is hospitalized from exhaustion and stress, but seems to recover during his stay.
October 16, 2015-Bridge of Spies is released to an outstanding ovation, as it is lionized by the critics and makes $165 million.
October 23, 2015-Rejuvenated by the hospital stay, and the outpouring of flowers, letters and well-wishers, Nirvana does a brief series of surprise intimate gigs in clubs on the West Coast.
October 31, 2015-Ash vs Evil Dead premieres on Starz to ecstatic reception and ratings. Its five-season run manages to fulfill the everything planned, including using the planned merging of the narratives of Ash and Mia for seasons four and five.
November 3, 2015-Alien: Awakening opens worldwide to a grateful and enthusiastic reception, making it the most highly-revered and successful film since Aliens, complete with Peter Travers of Rolling Stone saying in his review, "It may be almost 30 years since we got the chance for a proper followup to James Cameron's sequel to Ridley Scott's classic...but boy, was it worth it, as the disappointment of Alien 3 is completely scrubbed away...Springbok certainly have great care for the integrity of the series, as their efforts to create a prequel and explanation for the 'Space Jockey' in the derelict ship with Prometheus and its second part Paradise were quite well-done, but let's be honest, Awakening is the movie everyone's actually been waiting for. Especially in how the film gives a fitting send-off for Ripley and Hicks, and wraps things up neatly so that the series could be considered over, but if Springbok and Fox wish to continue, Newt can easily pick up the baton. Whatever happens now, at least we finally have the movie that has been promised us for far too long." Indeed, after this, rumors of both a potential followup to Awakening as well as one to Prometheus/Paradise soon emerge.
November 7, 2015-Nirvana's European tour begins in Dublin, a month earlier than expected.
November 10, 2015-Theron lines up two starring roles for Springbok projects for herself. These are another Diablo Cody script entitled Tully, and a comedy called Gringo. Both of these will be done after she records lines for a new stop motion animated project from Laika, makers of Coraline, entitled Kubo and the Two Strings.
November 14, 2015-Robert Rodriguez officially takes over as director for Alita: Battle Angel, as the film is now called, due to James Cameron's producer/partner Jon Landau half-joking that Cameron "only makes T and A films."
November 20, 2015-Jessica Jones premieres on Blockbuster Entertainment, and is yet another success for the Marvel/Blockbuster deal.
November 28, 2015-Nirvana's performance at London's Olympic Stadium is so jam-packed that the fire marshal threatens to shut down the concert, due to a loophole exploited by the promoters.
December 5, 2015-During a concert in Belgium, the crowds are so rowdy that beer bottles are constantly thrown at the stage and one hits Cobain's face, forcing the show to end only 40 minutes in.
December 14, 2015-From Variety:
“Mark Burnett Named President of MGM Television,” by Dave McNary, Variety, 12/14/15
Mark Burnett has been named president of MGM Television and Digital Group and has signed a five-year contract.
MGM made the announcement Monday and disclosed that it has bought out the remaining 45% interest that Burnett and Hearst Corp held in United Artists Media Group in deals worth $233 million total. Roma Khanna, who had run MGM Television for the past four years, is leaving the company.
Under the deal, Burnett will report directly to Gary Barber, chairman and CEO. Burnett’s and Roma Downey’s interests in United Artists Media Group will be absorbed under the MGM Television Group umbrella.
The deal comes 15 months after MGM acquired a 55% stake in the production companies jointly owned by Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Hearst Entertainment. At that point, MGM refurbished the United Artists banner to house the investment with Burnett serving as CEO of United Artists Media Group to produce TV shows, films and digital content for a wide range of global platforms. Downey was named president of Lightworkers Media, the faith and family unit.
“Mark Burnett is one of the most successful producers in television and a highly sought-after executive in content creation,” Barber said in a statement issued Monday. “His leadership is the next step in our never-ending quest to expand and grow our television and digital businesses. Combining all of our TV content efforts under the purview of this unparalleled chief is incredibly exciting. Additionally, we believe this synergistic transaction will be very accretive to MGM.”
Burnett and Downey will exchange their 23% interest in UAMG for 1,337,360 shares of MGM stock valued at $90 per share or about $120 million. Hearst will receive $113.5 million in cash for their 22% interest. Springbok Productions, which helped set up the UAMG deal, has no stock shares, but will receive a cash bonus of unknown value.
The transaction is expected to close at the beginning of 2016 and was valued based upon the original deal parameters established when MGM acquired the initial 55% of UAMG in 2014.
The previously announced streaming channel will remain a separate entity controlled by its investors, Downey, Burnett, Hearst and MGM. Downey will serve as chief content officer in addition to her role as Lightworkers president.
“Joining MGM under the incredible leadership of Gary Barber is an exciting new chapter of my television career,” said Burnett. “Demand for quality content is stronger than ever and the opportunities to grow our pipeline and develop projects from the wealth of Intellectual Property in the MGM and United Artists libraries are enormous. There is no better time to be creating premium content for distribution across multiple platforms."
Downey added, “We have entered into an era where faith-based and family programming is experiencing a creative renaissance. I am so excited and grateful to head up the team at Lightworkers Media under MGM. This is an enthusiastic marketplace that inspires us every day to create and curate new, thoughtful and dynamic content for all screens in the distribution landscape.”
MGM also announced that Chris Ottinger has been promoted to president of worldwide television distribution & acquisitions for MGM, reporting directly to Barber. Steve Stark, MGM’s president of television development & production, will continue to oversee all scripted content and will report directly to Burnett in an expanded role.
John Bryan, MGM’s president of domestic television distribution, will continue in his role overseeing domestic distribution.
Burnett has had a long string of successes as a producer of reality series, including Survivor, The Voice, and Shark Tank. He’s also recently been increasingly involved in faith-based productions, including 2013’s The Bible, which was a huge ratings hit for the History Channel. His most recent effort, The Dovekeepers, proved a relative disappointment for CBS.
Burnett’s partnership with MGM will prove a boost to the studio’s TV lineup. His library will add significant muscle to their current efforts, which include FX’s Fargo and MTV’s Teen Wolf.
Burnett and Downey also became involved with MGM on the movie side in 2014 when they joined MGM-Paramount’s Ben-Hur, set for release on Aug. 12. Burnett joined Sean Daniel (The Mummy franchise) and Joni Levin as a producer. Downey is an executive producer.
Sidley Austin LLP represented Burnett and Roma Downey in MGM’s buyout.
November 7, 2015-Nirvana's European tour begins in Dublin, a month earlier than expected.
November 10, 2015-Theron lines up two starring roles for Springbok projects for herself. These are another Diablo Cody script entitled Tully, and a comedy called Gringo. Both of these will be done after she records lines for a new stop motion animated project from Laika, makers of Coraline, entitled Kubo and the Two Strings.
November 14, 2015-Robert Rodriguez officially takes over as director for Alita: Battle Angel, as the film is now called, due to James Cameron's producer/partner Jon Landau half-joking that Cameron "only makes T and A films."
November 20, 2015-Jessica Jones premieres on Blockbuster Entertainment, and is yet another success for the Marvel/Blockbuster deal.
November 28, 2015-Nirvana's performance at London's Olympic Stadium is so jam-packed that the fire marshal threatens to shut down the concert, due to a loophole exploited by the promoters.
December 5, 2015-During a concert in Belgium, the crowds are so rowdy that beer bottles are constantly thrown at the stage and one hits Cobain's face, forcing the show to end only 40 minutes in.
December 14, 2015-From Variety:
“Mark Burnett Named President of MGM Television,” by Dave McNary, Variety, 12/14/15
Mark Burnett has been named president of MGM Television and Digital Group and has signed a five-year contract.
MGM made the announcement Monday and disclosed that it has bought out the remaining 45% interest that Burnett and Hearst Corp held in United Artists Media Group in deals worth $233 million total. Roma Khanna, who had run MGM Television for the past four years, is leaving the company.
Under the deal, Burnett will report directly to Gary Barber, chairman and CEO. Burnett’s and Roma Downey’s interests in United Artists Media Group will be absorbed under the MGM Television Group umbrella.
The deal comes 15 months after MGM acquired a 55% stake in the production companies jointly owned by Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Hearst Entertainment. At that point, MGM refurbished the United Artists banner to house the investment with Burnett serving as CEO of United Artists Media Group to produce TV shows, films and digital content for a wide range of global platforms. Downey was named president of Lightworkers Media, the faith and family unit.
“Mark Burnett is one of the most successful producers in television and a highly sought-after executive in content creation,” Barber said in a statement issued Monday. “His leadership is the next step in our never-ending quest to expand and grow our television and digital businesses. Combining all of our TV content efforts under the purview of this unparalleled chief is incredibly exciting. Additionally, we believe this synergistic transaction will be very accretive to MGM.”
Burnett and Downey will exchange their 23% interest in UAMG for 1,337,360 shares of MGM stock valued at $90 per share or about $120 million. Hearst will receive $113.5 million in cash for their 22% interest. Springbok Productions, which helped set up the UAMG deal, has no stock shares, but will receive a cash bonus of unknown value.
The transaction is expected to close at the beginning of 2016 and was valued based upon the original deal parameters established when MGM acquired the initial 55% of UAMG in 2014.
The previously announced streaming channel will remain a separate entity controlled by its investors, Downey, Burnett, Hearst and MGM. Downey will serve as chief content officer in addition to her role as Lightworkers president.
“Joining MGM under the incredible leadership of Gary Barber is an exciting new chapter of my television career,” said Burnett. “Demand for quality content is stronger than ever and the opportunities to grow our pipeline and develop projects from the wealth of Intellectual Property in the MGM and United Artists libraries are enormous. There is no better time to be creating premium content for distribution across multiple platforms."
Downey added, “We have entered into an era where faith-based and family programming is experiencing a creative renaissance. I am so excited and grateful to head up the team at Lightworkers Media under MGM. This is an enthusiastic marketplace that inspires us every day to create and curate new, thoughtful and dynamic content for all screens in the distribution landscape.”
MGM also announced that Chris Ottinger has been promoted to president of worldwide television distribution & acquisitions for MGM, reporting directly to Barber. Steve Stark, MGM’s president of television development & production, will continue to oversee all scripted content and will report directly to Burnett in an expanded role.
John Bryan, MGM’s president of domestic television distribution, will continue in his role overseeing domestic distribution.
Burnett has had a long string of successes as a producer of reality series, including Survivor, The Voice, and Shark Tank. He’s also recently been increasingly involved in faith-based productions, including 2013’s The Bible, which was a huge ratings hit for the History Channel. His most recent effort, The Dovekeepers, proved a relative disappointment for CBS.
Burnett’s partnership with MGM will prove a boost to the studio’s TV lineup. His library will add significant muscle to their current efforts, which include FX’s Fargo and MTV’s Teen Wolf.
Burnett and Downey also became involved with MGM on the movie side in 2014 when they joined MGM-Paramount’s Ben-Hur, set for release on Aug. 12. Burnett joined Sean Daniel (The Mummy franchise) and Joni Levin as a producer. Downey is an executive producer.
Sidley Austin LLP represented Burnett and Roma Downey in MGM’s buyout.
December 16, 2015-From a press release:
DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Springbok Productions, Reliance Entertainment, And Entertainment One Form Amblin Partners, A New Film, Television And Digital Content Creation Company
Steven Spielberg, Alibaba Pictures and Universal Also Investors in Amblin Partners
Universal City, California – Steven Spielberg, Principal Partner, DreamWorks Studios, Jeff Skoll, Chairman, Participant Media, Jennifer Todd, Chief Executive Officer, Springbok Productions, Anil Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Group, and Darren Throop, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment One (eOne) announced today the formation of Amblin Partners, a new film, television and digital content creation company.
The new company will create content using the Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant brands and leverage their power and broad awareness to tell stories that appeal to a wide range of audiences. Participant Media will remain a separate company that continues to independently develop, produce and finance projects with socially relevant themes. Springbok Productions will also remain independent, and continue to work with and without various other companies on projects in film, television, digital content, video games, staged theatricals, amusement park attractions and music.
Amblin Partners will be led by CEO Michael Wright and President and COO Jeff Small. In addition, Amblin Television will become a division of Amblin Partners and continues to be run by co-presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, who maintain their longtime leadership roles. They join Producer Kristie Macosko Krieger and President of Production Holly Bario on the film side, to complete Amblin Partners’ senior management team.
David Linde, Chief Executive Officer of Participant Media, and Participant’s narrative feature team, led by Executive Vice President Jonathan King, as well as Ms. Todd and the rest of the Springbok executive team, will work closely with Amblin Partners to develop and produce specific content for the new venture in addition to exploring opportunities for co-productions and other content.
In making the announcement about Amblin Partners, Mr. Spielberg said, “We are thrilled to partner with Jeff Skoll, Participant Media, and to continue our prolific relationship. We are of like minds, as our many collaborations have illustrated, with a mutual commitment to quality, premium entertainment and global vision.”
Mr. Skoll said, “I have had the good fortune of working with Steven for many years. We share a passion for stories that can truly affect change. And this new venture will further Participant’s growth and global impact.”
DreamWorks Studios and Participant Media have collaborated on many Academy Award nominated films such as Lincoln and The Help as well as the critically acclaimed The Hundred-Foot Journey, and the recently released Bridge of Spies.
Mr. Spielberg continued, “We also incredibly happy that Jennifer Todd and the people at Springbok Productions are involved in helping Amblin Partners get off the ground. Over a period of fifteen years of released projects, Springbok has demonstrated their passion and talent for pulling off hit after hit, as well a real connection with their audiences that is envied by all in the entertainment industry. They establish that Amblin Partners is for real.”
Ms. Todd said, “Steven Spielberg is one of the absolute living legends of Hollywood, and his presence on a project lifts it considerably. We’ve enjoyed our work with him immensely, and Amblin Partners ensures that it will continue.”
Springbok Productions started its relationship with Mr. Spielberg by helping Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures produce the 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha, and continued thanks to partnering with them on films such as War Horse, The Help, Lincoln, Whistle Down the Wind, Sailor Moon and Bridge of Spies.
Mr. Spielberg continued, “We are honored to continue our long-term association with our dear friend, Anil Ambani and his team at Reliance. We have had the opportunity to develop and produce wonderful films thanks to their ongoing support.”
“We are delighted to continue our now seven-years-strong relationship with our valued partner, Steven Spielberg, and to extend this alliance to the formation of Amblin Partners with Jeff Skoll and Springbok. We look forward to the combination of Steven’s passion and integrity with Jeff’s unique socially conscious vision and Springbok’s fusion of both along with top-notch nurturing of their audience to create uplifting and quality content to entertain global audiences,” Mr. Ambani said.
Mr. Spielberg continued, “We are also grateful to Darren Throop and his team at Entertainment One for their contribution to Amblin Partners. We look forward to expanding our relationship.”
“We are delighted to join Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll, Springbok and Reliance in launching this unique new venture,” Mr. Throop said. “We continually strive to partner with producers of the highest quality content, and Amblin Partners certainly represents the gold standard.”
Through this new partnership, eOne extends its collaboration into television production and distribution and expands its successful film distribution relationship across additional territories. eOne will handle the direct distribution of Amblin Partners films on a multi-territory output basis in Australia/New Zealand and Spain as well as the United Kingdom and the Benelux, where it previously had a successful output arrangement with DreamWorks Studios.
Amblin Partners has also announced that it will receive additional funding by selling minority stakes in the company to China’s Alibaba Pictures, which will help ensure distribution deals in China, and Universal Pictures, which also entered a five-year first look deal with Amblin Partners projects. The deal will not cancel out or replace a 30-film distribution pact DreamWorks made with The Walt Disney Company back in 2009, of which 19 films have been released to date, which was given no expiration date, and was also allowed to be nonexclusive. As explains Mr. Spielberg, “the Disney deal will still be fulfilled in due time, but they will only receive very specific projects. We’re also going to find projects to continue to give out to other studios that fit them. Universal will receive just about everything else, and it also allows a greater sense of creative freedom in many respects. The same magnet that pulled me to Universal when I first wanted to make movies is bringing me home again to this new exciting relationship.”
Mr. Spielberg’s career has long been tied to Universal Pictures, having made several notable films for them (as director or merely executive producer) such as Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, An American Tail, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Casper, Twister and Munich. He was also instrumental in the creation of Universal Studios Florida and its sister gate, Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Longtime Universal Studios head Ron Meyer said, “We couldn’t be more pleased to be back in business with Steven. Universal is, and always has been, Steven’s home.”
J.P.Morgan Chase structured and arranged the $500 million debt syndication together with Comerica Bank, which served as Co-Lead. Other financial institutions involved included Sun Trust Bank, Union Bank, City National Bank and Bank of America, among others. J.P.Morgan Chase and its predecessors have financed DreamWorks Studios since its inception in 1994.
About Amblin Partners
Amblin Partners is a content creation company formed by DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Springbok Productions, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One (eOne). The company develops and produces films using the Amblin, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming.
Film projects in various stages of production include: The BFG (with Springbok), and The Light Between Oceans, scheduled for release by Disney in 2016; The Girl on the Train, scheduled for release in October 2016; A Dog’s Purpose, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2017 and Ready Player One, a co-production between Amblin Partners, Springbok and Warner Bros. Pictures that is currently scheduled to be released in December of 2017.
Upcoming shows from Amblin TV include All the Way, an HBO movie directed by Jay Roach and starring Bryan Cranston, with an airdate to be announced shortly; and American Gothic, a summer series co-produced by Springbok that will air on CBS and begin production in February 2016.
About Participant Media
Participant Media is a leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for viewers to get involved. Participant’s more than 70 films, including Spotlight, Contagion, Lincoln, The Help, He Named Me Malala, The Look of Silence, CITIZENFOUR, Food, Inc., and An Inconvenient Truth, have collectively earned 37 Academy Award® nominations and eight wins. Participant has also launched more than a dozen original series including, Please Like Me, Emmy Award-winning Hit Record On TV with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Fortitude, for its television network Pivot. Participant’s digital hub, TakePart, serves millions of socially conscious consumers each month with daily articles, videos and opportunities to take action.
About Springbok Productions
Springbok Productions is an entertainment conglomerate founded by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and his wife, actress Charlize Theron, in 1999. Springbok Productions is recognized as a powerhouse with dozens of successful projects in film, television, digital content, video games, staged theatricals, amusement park attractions, and music.
Springbok has established success with acclaimed films such as Noble Rot, Kill Bill, Monster, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Departed, Borat, Apocalypto, James Cameron’s Avatar, There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, Prometheus, Alien: Awakening, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street, Love and Mercy, and Disney’s slate of live action remake of its animated properties. Among the projects Springbok is currently developing are Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, Martin Scorsese’s Silence, Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge and The Professor and the Madman, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Hail, Caesar! and remakes of Disney’s The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. Springbok is also known to be circling around a new rendition of A Star is Born and the long-announced biopic projects Bohemian Rhapsody, about the band Queen and its legendary frontman Freddie Mercury, and Rocketman, a “musical fantasy” of the life of Elton John.
Springbok is also a major player in the world of television, having done the revivals of the PBS game shows Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as original shows and TV expansions/reboots of films like Workshop, Ellen: The Second Coming, The Devil’s Advocate, The Chris Farley Show, House, M.D. (since season two after buying the TV slate of Bad Hat Harry Productions), American Horror Story and Hannibal. Coming soon are the likes of Cruel Intentions and Assassin’s Creed to Blockbuster Entertainment in 2016, and Mindhunter the following year; Westworld to HBO in 2016, American Crime Story to FX in 2016, and Feud: Bette and Joan to FX in 2017.
Through its animation division, Denver and Delilah Animation, Springbok is responsible for hit films and TV shows as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies, Dragon’s Lair, Space Ace, Metalocalypse, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Code Lyoko, The Polar Express, the 2009 version of A Christmas Carol, Rick and Morty and BoJack Horseman. Springbok is currently at work with Disney, Amblin Partners and Robert Zemeckis on a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Its Enima Studios division has created adaptations and English dubs of anime projects such as Sailor Moon, Death Note, Ghost in the Shell, Inuyasha, Princess Ai, Black Butler and the filmography of anime production company Studio Ghibli. This division is working on a film adaptation of Black Butler with Icon Productions and the previously announced and long delayed Alita: Battle Angel with James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez.
Springbok’s work in video games has entertained untold millions, through titles such as the episodic expansions to Half-Life 2, Portal, Portal 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Epic Mickey, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, Prey 2, the extremely popular Call of Duty series (since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare), the well-received BioShock series, the tie-in game for Alien: Awakening, Alien: Isolation, Life Is Strange, and the highly original Zophyre franchise. Coming down the pike are Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Call of Duty: Ghosts 2.
Springbok’s stage theatricals division made a big splash with the premiere of Jim Steinman’s Dance of the Vampires, and expanded on with productions such as Lestat, The Woman in White, Young Frankenstein, Love Never Dies, Blazing Saddles, Dixie Dope, The Book of Mormon, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County and the recent production Hamilton. Springbok has been intimately involved with Walt Disney Theatrical on productions such as Tarzan, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Aladdin and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Springbok has been involved in touring and regional productions, as well as Vegas spectaculars of productions it didn’t originate, such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Producers, Starmites, Elisabeth, Whistle Down the Wind and Beauty and the Beast. Springbok also produced splashy film adaptations of popular musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Producers (financing only), Sweeney Todd, Whistle Down the Wind, Les Miserables and Into the Woods. Springbok is currently at work on creating a musical based on Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman’s massively successful Bat Out of Hell trilogy and the theatricals division is also a key component in Springbok’s slate of live action Disney remakes.
Springbok has been long involved in the creative design and work of amusement park attractions, having created works for Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative. Works for Disney include the attraction Alien: Terror Incarnate, helping design the layout of Disney’s America and the redesign of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and generous assistance in the creation of new gates for Walt Disney World, such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Pixar Plaza, Marvel's Heroes Landing, and Pandora: The World of Avatar. For Universal, Springbok has redesigned and shored up Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, with a revamped Twister…Ride it Out! And Earthquake…The Big One, The Simpsons Ride and the surrounding area, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and ensuring the permanence of Kongfrontation, Ghostbusters Spooktacular and Jaws. Springbok also has a massive equity stake in Six Flags New Orleans and helped lead rebuilding efforts to the park after Hurricane Katrina.
Springbok’s record label arm, Exploitation Records, has signed and released the works of dozens of premier acts such as Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland, Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Skid Row, Ugly Kid Joe, Iggy Pop, Rush, Kansas, Steve Walsh/Streets, Foreigner, Lou Gramm, Styx, Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, Journey, Steve Perry, Elton John, INXS, Michael Hutchence, Silverchair, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar/Chickenfoot, The Doors of the 21st Century, Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers, The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman, Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, Andy McCoy, Blue Oyster Cult, Robert Plant, Sleater-Kinney, Evanescence, Amy Lee, Alter Bridge, Creed, Type O Negative, Megadeth, Dethklok, Tenacious D, Dolly Parton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Alison Krauss, The Dixie Chicks, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Ice-T, Method Man, Donald Glover/Childish Gambino, Taraji P. Henson, Richard Marx, Michael Jackson, Prince, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam, 10,000 Maniancs, Natalie Merchant, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Wilson Phillips, Drew Sarich/International Victim, Asa Somers/Moneyshot, RC Cates/“The Stephen Clay Experience”, DAYSIX, Evan Rachel Wood/Rebel and a Basketcase, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, and Alfie Boe.
Starting in 2013, the company launched Springbok Ventures, a venture capitalism group for funding the work of young entrepreneurs, events and programs of social activism, and musical events. Since the company’s inception, Springbok has helped finance dozens of film, television and video game projects that it has no producer’s role in. Through many acquisitions, Springbok contains a formidable and lucrative library of over 500 additional film and television titles. Springbok is both a Fortune 50 and a Dow 30 company. Outside of Springbok (as well as partial funding stream for the company), Cobain and Theron also have been longtime investors in Planet Hollywood, as well as maintaining equity stakes in Miami Subs Pizza & Grill (alongside a recent equity stake purchase by rapper Pitbull) and Roadhouse Grill.
About Reliance Entertainment
Reliance Group, led by Mr. Anil D. Ambani, is among India’s major business houses, with a leadership position in telecommunications, power, infrastructure, financial services, and media and entertainment. The Group has over 250 million customers, serving 1 in every 5 Indians, and has over 8 million shareholders, amongst the largest shareholder families in the world.
Reliance Entertainment is the media and entertainment arm of Reliance Group, and is engaged in the creation and distribution of content across film, television, digital and gaming platforms. Internationally, Reliance Entertainment has partnered since 2009 with iconic film producer and director, Steven Spielberg, in the formation of DreamWorks Studios.
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Spain, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Film and Television divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming, merchandising and licensing, and digital content. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 40,000 film and television titles, 4,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Springbok Productions, Reliance Entertainment, And Entertainment One Form Amblin Partners, A New Film, Television And Digital Content Creation Company
Steven Spielberg, Alibaba Pictures and Universal Also Investors in Amblin Partners
Universal City, California – Steven Spielberg, Principal Partner, DreamWorks Studios, Jeff Skoll, Chairman, Participant Media, Jennifer Todd, Chief Executive Officer, Springbok Productions, Anil Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Group, and Darren Throop, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment One (eOne) announced today the formation of Amblin Partners, a new film, television and digital content creation company.
The new company will create content using the Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant brands and leverage their power and broad awareness to tell stories that appeal to a wide range of audiences. Participant Media will remain a separate company that continues to independently develop, produce and finance projects with socially relevant themes. Springbok Productions will also remain independent, and continue to work with and without various other companies on projects in film, television, digital content, video games, staged theatricals, amusement park attractions and music.
Amblin Partners will be led by CEO Michael Wright and President and COO Jeff Small. In addition, Amblin Television will become a division of Amblin Partners and continues to be run by co-presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, who maintain their longtime leadership roles. They join Producer Kristie Macosko Krieger and President of Production Holly Bario on the film side, to complete Amblin Partners’ senior management team.
David Linde, Chief Executive Officer of Participant Media, and Participant’s narrative feature team, led by Executive Vice President Jonathan King, as well as Ms. Todd and the rest of the Springbok executive team, will work closely with Amblin Partners to develop and produce specific content for the new venture in addition to exploring opportunities for co-productions and other content.
In making the announcement about Amblin Partners, Mr. Spielberg said, “We are thrilled to partner with Jeff Skoll, Participant Media, and to continue our prolific relationship. We are of like minds, as our many collaborations have illustrated, with a mutual commitment to quality, premium entertainment and global vision.”
Mr. Skoll said, “I have had the good fortune of working with Steven for many years. We share a passion for stories that can truly affect change. And this new venture will further Participant’s growth and global impact.”
DreamWorks Studios and Participant Media have collaborated on many Academy Award nominated films such as Lincoln and The Help as well as the critically acclaimed The Hundred-Foot Journey, and the recently released Bridge of Spies.
Mr. Spielberg continued, “We also incredibly happy that Jennifer Todd and the people at Springbok Productions are involved in helping Amblin Partners get off the ground. Over a period of fifteen years of released projects, Springbok has demonstrated their passion and talent for pulling off hit after hit, as well a real connection with their audiences that is envied by all in the entertainment industry. They establish that Amblin Partners is for real.”
Ms. Todd said, “Steven Spielberg is one of the absolute living legends of Hollywood, and his presence on a project lifts it considerably. We’ve enjoyed our work with him immensely, and Amblin Partners ensures that it will continue.”
Springbok Productions started its relationship with Mr. Spielberg by helping Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures produce the 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha, and continued thanks to partnering with them on films such as War Horse, The Help, Lincoln, Whistle Down the Wind, Sailor Moon and Bridge of Spies.
Mr. Spielberg continued, “We are honored to continue our long-term association with our dear friend, Anil Ambani and his team at Reliance. We have had the opportunity to develop and produce wonderful films thanks to their ongoing support.”
“We are delighted to continue our now seven-years-strong relationship with our valued partner, Steven Spielberg, and to extend this alliance to the formation of Amblin Partners with Jeff Skoll and Springbok. We look forward to the combination of Steven’s passion and integrity with Jeff’s unique socially conscious vision and Springbok’s fusion of both along with top-notch nurturing of their audience to create uplifting and quality content to entertain global audiences,” Mr. Ambani said.
Mr. Spielberg continued, “We are also grateful to Darren Throop and his team at Entertainment One for their contribution to Amblin Partners. We look forward to expanding our relationship.”
“We are delighted to join Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll, Springbok and Reliance in launching this unique new venture,” Mr. Throop said. “We continually strive to partner with producers of the highest quality content, and Amblin Partners certainly represents the gold standard.”
Through this new partnership, eOne extends its collaboration into television production and distribution and expands its successful film distribution relationship across additional territories. eOne will handle the direct distribution of Amblin Partners films on a multi-territory output basis in Australia/New Zealand and Spain as well as the United Kingdom and the Benelux, where it previously had a successful output arrangement with DreamWorks Studios.
Amblin Partners has also announced that it will receive additional funding by selling minority stakes in the company to China’s Alibaba Pictures, which will help ensure distribution deals in China, and Universal Pictures, which also entered a five-year first look deal with Amblin Partners projects. The deal will not cancel out or replace a 30-film distribution pact DreamWorks made with The Walt Disney Company back in 2009, of which 19 films have been released to date, which was given no expiration date, and was also allowed to be nonexclusive. As explains Mr. Spielberg, “the Disney deal will still be fulfilled in due time, but they will only receive very specific projects. We’re also going to find projects to continue to give out to other studios that fit them. Universal will receive just about everything else, and it also allows a greater sense of creative freedom in many respects. The same magnet that pulled me to Universal when I first wanted to make movies is bringing me home again to this new exciting relationship.”
Mr. Spielberg’s career has long been tied to Universal Pictures, having made several notable films for them (as director or merely executive producer) such as Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, An American Tail, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Casper, Twister and Munich. He was also instrumental in the creation of Universal Studios Florida and its sister gate, Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Longtime Universal Studios head Ron Meyer said, “We couldn’t be more pleased to be back in business with Steven. Universal is, and always has been, Steven’s home.”
J.P.Morgan Chase structured and arranged the $500 million debt syndication together with Comerica Bank, which served as Co-Lead. Other financial institutions involved included Sun Trust Bank, Union Bank, City National Bank and Bank of America, among others. J.P.Morgan Chase and its predecessors have financed DreamWorks Studios since its inception in 1994.
About Amblin Partners
Amblin Partners is a content creation company formed by DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Springbok Productions, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One (eOne). The company develops and produces films using the Amblin, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming.
Film projects in various stages of production include: The BFG (with Springbok), and The Light Between Oceans, scheduled for release by Disney in 2016; The Girl on the Train, scheduled for release in October 2016; A Dog’s Purpose, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2017 and Ready Player One, a co-production between Amblin Partners, Springbok and Warner Bros. Pictures that is currently scheduled to be released in December of 2017.
Upcoming shows from Amblin TV include All the Way, an HBO movie directed by Jay Roach and starring Bryan Cranston, with an airdate to be announced shortly; and American Gothic, a summer series co-produced by Springbok that will air on CBS and begin production in February 2016.
About Participant Media
Participant Media is a leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for viewers to get involved. Participant’s more than 70 films, including Spotlight, Contagion, Lincoln, The Help, He Named Me Malala, The Look of Silence, CITIZENFOUR, Food, Inc., and An Inconvenient Truth, have collectively earned 37 Academy Award® nominations and eight wins. Participant has also launched more than a dozen original series including, Please Like Me, Emmy Award-winning Hit Record On TV with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Fortitude, for its television network Pivot. Participant’s digital hub, TakePart, serves millions of socially conscious consumers each month with daily articles, videos and opportunities to take action.
About Springbok Productions
Springbok Productions is an entertainment conglomerate founded by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and his wife, actress Charlize Theron, in 1999. Springbok Productions is recognized as a powerhouse with dozens of successful projects in film, television, digital content, video games, staged theatricals, amusement park attractions, and music.
Springbok has established success with acclaimed films such as Noble Rot, Kill Bill, Monster, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Departed, Borat, Apocalypto, James Cameron’s Avatar, There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, Prometheus, Alien: Awakening, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street, Love and Mercy, and Disney’s slate of live action remake of its animated properties. Among the projects Springbok is currently developing are Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, Martin Scorsese’s Silence, Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge and The Professor and the Madman, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Hail, Caesar! and remakes of Disney’s The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. Springbok is also known to be circling around a new rendition of A Star is Born and the long-announced biopic projects Bohemian Rhapsody, about the band Queen and its legendary frontman Freddie Mercury, and Rocketman, a “musical fantasy” of the life of Elton John.
Springbok is also a major player in the world of television, having done the revivals of the PBS game shows Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as original shows and TV expansions/reboots of films like Workshop, Ellen: The Second Coming, The Devil’s Advocate, The Chris Farley Show, House, M.D. (since season two after buying the TV slate of Bad Hat Harry Productions), American Horror Story and Hannibal. Coming soon are the likes of Cruel Intentions and Assassin’s Creed to Blockbuster Entertainment in 2016, and Mindhunter the following year; Westworld to HBO in 2016, American Crime Story to FX in 2016, and Feud: Bette and Joan to FX in 2017.
Through its animation division, Denver and Delilah Animation, Springbok is responsible for hit films and TV shows as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies, Dragon’s Lair, Space Ace, Metalocalypse, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Code Lyoko, The Polar Express, the 2009 version of A Christmas Carol, Rick and Morty and BoJack Horseman. Springbok is currently at work with Disney, Amblin Partners and Robert Zemeckis on a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Its Enima Studios division has created adaptations and English dubs of anime projects such as Sailor Moon, Death Note, Ghost in the Shell, Inuyasha, Princess Ai, Black Butler and the filmography of anime production company Studio Ghibli. This division is working on a film adaptation of Black Butler with Icon Productions and the previously announced and long delayed Alita: Battle Angel with James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez.
Springbok’s work in video games has entertained untold millions, through titles such as the episodic expansions to Half-Life 2, Portal, Portal 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Epic Mickey, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, Prey 2, the extremely popular Call of Duty series (since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare), the well-received BioShock series, the tie-in game for Alien: Awakening, Alien: Isolation, Life Is Strange, and the highly original Zophyre franchise. Coming down the pike are Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Call of Duty: Ghosts 2.
Springbok’s stage theatricals division made a big splash with the premiere of Jim Steinman’s Dance of the Vampires, and expanded on with productions such as Lestat, The Woman in White, Young Frankenstein, Love Never Dies, Blazing Saddles, Dixie Dope, The Book of Mormon, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County and the recent production Hamilton. Springbok has been intimately involved with Walt Disney Theatrical on productions such as Tarzan, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Aladdin and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Springbok has been involved in touring and regional productions, as well as Vegas spectaculars of productions it didn’t originate, such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Producers, Starmites, Elisabeth, Whistle Down the Wind and Beauty and the Beast. Springbok also produced splashy film adaptations of popular musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Producers (financing only), Sweeney Todd, Whistle Down the Wind, Les Miserables and Into the Woods. Springbok is currently at work on creating a musical based on Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman’s massively successful Bat Out of Hell trilogy and the theatricals division is also a key component in Springbok’s slate of live action Disney remakes.
Springbok has been long involved in the creative design and work of amusement park attractions, having created works for Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative. Works for Disney include the attraction Alien: Terror Incarnate, helping design the layout of Disney’s America and the redesign of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and generous assistance in the creation of new gates for Walt Disney World, such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Pixar Plaza, Marvel's Heroes Landing, and Pandora: The World of Avatar. For Universal, Springbok has redesigned and shored up Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, with a revamped Twister…Ride it Out! And Earthquake…The Big One, The Simpsons Ride and the surrounding area, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and ensuring the permanence of Kongfrontation, Ghostbusters Spooktacular and Jaws. Springbok also has a massive equity stake in Six Flags New Orleans and helped lead rebuilding efforts to the park after Hurricane Katrina.
Springbok’s record label arm, Exploitation Records, has signed and released the works of dozens of premier acts such as Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland, Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Skid Row, Ugly Kid Joe, Iggy Pop, Rush, Kansas, Steve Walsh/Streets, Foreigner, Lou Gramm, Styx, Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, Journey, Steve Perry, Elton John, INXS, Michael Hutchence, Silverchair, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar/Chickenfoot, The Doors of the 21st Century, Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers, The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman, Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, Andy McCoy, Blue Oyster Cult, Robert Plant, Sleater-Kinney, Evanescence, Amy Lee, Alter Bridge, Creed, Type O Negative, Megadeth, Dethklok, Tenacious D, Dolly Parton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Alison Krauss, The Dixie Chicks, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Ice-T, Method Man, Donald Glover/Childish Gambino, Taraji P. Henson, Richard Marx, Michael Jackson, Prince, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam, 10,000 Maniancs, Natalie Merchant, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Wilson Phillips, Drew Sarich/International Victim, Asa Somers/Moneyshot, RC Cates/“The Stephen Clay Experience”, DAYSIX, Evan Rachel Wood/Rebel and a Basketcase, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, and Alfie Boe.
Starting in 2013, the company launched Springbok Ventures, a venture capitalism group for funding the work of young entrepreneurs, events and programs of social activism, and musical events. Since the company’s inception, Springbok has helped finance dozens of film, television and video game projects that it has no producer’s role in. Through many acquisitions, Springbok contains a formidable and lucrative library of over 500 additional film and television titles. Springbok is both a Fortune 50 and a Dow 30 company. Outside of Springbok (as well as partial funding stream for the company), Cobain and Theron also have been longtime investors in Planet Hollywood, as well as maintaining equity stakes in Miami Subs Pizza & Grill (alongside a recent equity stake purchase by rapper Pitbull) and Roadhouse Grill.
About Reliance Entertainment
Reliance Group, led by Mr. Anil D. Ambani, is among India’s major business houses, with a leadership position in telecommunications, power, infrastructure, financial services, and media and entertainment. The Group has over 250 million customers, serving 1 in every 5 Indians, and has over 8 million shareholders, amongst the largest shareholder families in the world.
Reliance Entertainment is the media and entertainment arm of Reliance Group, and is engaged in the creation and distribution of content across film, television, digital and gaming platforms. Internationally, Reliance Entertainment has partnered since 2009 with iconic film producer and director, Steven Spielberg, in the formation of DreamWorks Studios.
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Spain, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Film and Television divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming, merchandising and licensing, and digital content. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 40,000 film and television titles, 4,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
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(I remember that another film was planned for the roster in 2016 entitled The Little Gop That Could, starring Sacha Baron Cohen. It is not a mockumentary, but a scripted satirical musical parody film. If you'd like a reminder on the plot, I'll refresh you.)
December 18, 2015-Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens to a rapturous reception and becoming only the third-ever motion picture to reach the $2 billion mark, and breaking the North American all-time box office record.
December 21, 2015-Nirvana's European tour ends with a concert at Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, and the intent is give to time to recuperate, as well as enable Cobain to report to the portion of the live-action shoot for Who Cancelled Roger Rabbit? involving Springbok figures, as well as those in other studios, production companies, record labels and so on to appear as versions of themselves, poking fun at their image.
December 25, 2015-The Hateful Eight becomes another bona fide success for Tarantino, with universal praise and $156 million at the box office.
December 28, 2015-Theron's schedule after recording lines for Kubo and the Two Strings gets shifted with an unexpected offer too good to pass up, as she gets a chance for a full-throttle action movie patterned after Keanu Reeves' recent success with the John Wick franchise. Furthermore, 87eleven Action Co., the group responsible for the stuntwork in that franchise, and who also has developed the motion-capture stunts for the Call of Duty video games, is on board with the project, entitled Atomic Blonde.
January 2, 2016-Democratic strategist James Carville is interviewed on Meet the Press as to his thoughts about why the upcoming election is quite important. "Simply put, the soul of the country is on the line here. For the past decade, the Republicans have been moving to try to rebrand themselves and turn a new leaf, but they're not quite there, even though they've certainly flipped more governorships lately and narrowed the Democrats' lead in Congress. But a victory in this election is what is needed to restore things to sanity. After another White House defeat, the extremist, vitriolic, xenophobic wing of the GOP will get out their last, nasty outburst, which could easily last all through January 20th, in a moment of catharsis. Then the Republicans will finally move to realize that in order to be a relevant and necessary force in politics again, they have to denounce the form their party has taken since Nixon's Southern Strategy. They will remain conservative, but actually adults in the room just as much as the Democrats are, and working in good faith will be restored. So when the inevitable Republican return to the White House and Congress occurs, whenever that is, it will be because the will of the people, which is overridingly centrist and always switching to correct a perceived error, genuinely wishes it so and has been done fairly. The survival of the two-party system will be assured."
January 5, 2016-The deal for Atomic Blonde, scheduled for release next year, is officially confirmed, as one for yet another Springbok series for Blockbuster Entertainment to be released in 2017, a comedy entitled Girlboss, based on the autobiography of Sophia Amoruso, the founder of the retailer Nasty Gal, which is given a 13-episode order.
January 8, 2016-Denver and Delilah Animation confirms that it has been working on a sequel to the 1992 animated feature Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, and will be released by 20th Century Fox on August 8, partially driven by the intended bump by the release of the Captain Planet reboot on June 12. The film will also be dedicated to the memory of Robin Williams, given that Cobain and Theron had been good friends of him and had been extremely affected by his suicide in August 2014.
January 9, 2016-From Variety:
"Actor Willem Dafoe, Dana Brunetti Set to Run Relativity for Ryan Kavanaugh," by James Rainey
In a blockbuster move intended to resurrect his bankrupt company, Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh has reached an agreement to have Willem Dafoe and producer/Trigger Street Productions head Dana Brunetti run Relativity’s beleaguered studio, the company confirmed late Wednesday.
The deal brings Relativity not only a well-renowned actor and an acclaimed producer, but also their Trigger Street Productions, producer of House of Cards. The acquisition of the production company marks a major coup for Kavanaugh, who could not prevent his company from sliding into Chapter 11 bankruptcy five months ago.
Relativity has been fighting to raise $100 million in new capital to help complete a reorganization that would revive the moribund movie unit. An alliance of senior creditors has already taken over the company’s television operation. A U.S. bankruptcy court judge is scheduled to consider Kavanaugh’s reorganization plan on Feb. 1.
Dafoe will become chairman of Relativity Studios and Brunetti president as of mid-February, according to the announcement. The duo will oversee all creative content and film production for the company. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I am thrilled to welcome Willem and Dana to Relativity,” Kavanaugh said in a statement. “Willem's incredible success as a star and last ten years as a producer to keep Trigger Street not only afloat, but as the producer of House of Cards speaks for itself. Dana has remarkable instincts and an impressive track record of producing films such as Casino Jack, The Social Network, Margin Call and Captain Phillips. Both men share my passion for film and Relativity’s unique 360-degree content engine, and I could not be more excited to partner with such talented professionals.”
Kavanaugh’s reputation has taken a beating in the months leading up to a July 30 bankruptcy filing and since then, as his company registered liabilities of $1.2 billion and assets of $560 million. One financial partner accused him of fraud and a major producer, Neal Moritz, also briefly charged Kavanaugh with misleading him into making a movie deal, before later revoking his accusation. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations against him and responded that his company was the victim of one-time allies who tried to undermine him to take control of Relativity.
Dafoe's own statement acknowledged that many would be stunned by the news he was joining the company.
“They thought we were crazy when we chose to do House of Cards with an online streaming service, and this move with Relativity will be proof for some that we really are crazy,” Dafoe said. But he called the move “an incredible opportunity to make great entertainment” and said he considered it the “next evolution in my career.”
“Having run an independent production company, to pick up the baton from an incredibly talented, if troubled star and keep it alive, to now be able to run a studio is a great challenge,” Dafoe said, “and I’ve learned that in the end it’s the risk-takers that are rewarded.”
Brunetti said Relativity would work to differentiate itself from other filmmakers. “While other studios are focusing on tentpoles and franchises, there is a void with an eager audience for films that are character driven with great storytelling that can be made at a reasonable budget,” Brunetti said in a statement. “Being a disruptor at heart, I look forward to the opportunities that being inside a studio system will present.”
Casting a marquee actor-producer duo in executive leadership roles is unusual in Hollywood, though not unprecedented. Tom Cruise and his longtime producing partner Paula Wagner were recruited to run United Artists in 2006 in what was billed as a boon to the actor’s then-lagging career. But the duo’s initial films did not win over audiences and parent company MGM ran into problems financing its own productions. As MGM backed off its commitment to United Artists, Wagner and Cruise split in pursuit of their own projects, with Wagner later becoming a key member of Springbok Productions.
Kavanaugh had been looking for weeks for new executives to replace the top managers, including president Tucker Tooley, who left the company last year.
Trigger Street was originally founded by Brunetti and Kevin Spacey, who had been best known for his powerhouse work in films such as Glengarry Glenn Ross, Seven, American Beauty and The Usual Suspects (for which he scored a supporting actor Oscar), but his exposure for a history of sexual misconduct against young men put an end to his career. Trigger Street was saved by financing from Springbok Productions, and Dafoe stepped in to take Spacey's role. Indeed, Dafoe's career took quite an upturn by filling out roles that might have originally gone for Spacey, in films like Casino Jack and Margin Call and video games like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Along with Brunetti, he has also been a producer known for embracing digital innovation, like an online platform offering feedback for screenwriters, as well as for backing a series of acclaimed films, including The Social Network and Captain Phillips, as well as the hit TV series House of Cards, starring Christian Bale.
A move to Relativity could give the star and his producing partner a larger platform for launching projects. It would help reestablish a measure of credibility for Kavanaugh’s film operation, which has been battered by a series of lackluster films and a financial meltdown that has delayed the release of many others. A Dafoe-Brunetti combination at Relativity would presumably help resolve some of the issues the mini-studio might otherwise have in luring talent to embark on new movies.
Brunetti has worked with Relativity in the past — reaching an accord a year ago to make a movie about the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, an episode that claimed the lives of four Americans and raised a political furor over the American response. The studio bought story rights from some of the principals on the scene of the debacle. The project is separate from the soon-to-be released 13 Hours, another Benghazi-themed film, from Paramount.
Brunetti, it is fair to assume, also will want to continue as a producer on other films.
Season four of House of Cards will premiere on March 6.
January 11, 2016-From the Los Angeles Times:
"China's Dalian Wanda Group Buys Legendary Entertainment for up to $3.5 billion," by Jonathan Kaiman
BEIJING — Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group has acquired Legendary Entertainment, the Hollywood production company behind The Dark Knight, Jurassic World and Godzilla movies.
At a signing ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday morning, Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin announced that his company had signed an agreement to buy the Burbank production company for as much as $3.5 billion in cash.
The deal represents the largest acquisition to date of a U.S. production company by a Chinese firm and the latest sign of the deepening ties between Hollywood and the world’s most populous country.
“We already have a big impact in China, however this is not enough — we have to have a global vision,” Wang, China’s richest man, said at a news conference, an elaborate affair featuring flashing lights and long rows of models in sequin dresses.
“We have to have a position in the global industry,” Wang said. “And a few American movie companies have these commanding heights of the movie industry in the world. We want to change this situation and the landscape.”
Wanda, which began as a commercial real estate firm, has grown into a massive
diversified conglomerate in recent years, with holdings including luxury hotels, entertainment companies and e-commerce firms.
The company’s subsidiary Wanda Cinema Line is China’s biggest cinema chain, with a 14.5% share in the country’s burgeoning box office.
Wang, a former military officer, has made other forays into global markets and into the U.S. entertainment industry. In 2012, he acquired AMC Theatres, North America’s second-largest cinema chain, for $2.6 billion. A year later, Wanda donated $20 million to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its film museum on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art campus.
Buying Legendary fits Wanda’s goal of creating a global media company and becoming a major player in film production. Wanda is building what it touts as “the world’s largest film and television studio” in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao.
Spread across more than 400 acres, Wanda Studios Qingdao will house 30 soundstages, a permanent facsimile of a New York City street, a temperature-controlled underwater stage, the country’s largest exterior water tank and postproduction facilities.
The first phase of the studio is scheduled to open in 2017, and the company is seeking to lure both Chinese and international productions to the facility.
On Tuesday, Wang said that the acquisition will help Legendary Entertainment navigate access to the Chinese market, which is protected by a government-imposed limit on the number of foreign films released in the country each year. He brushed off questions about government censorship and allegations that that U.S. film companies have bowed to censors’ demands to gain a piece of the Chinese market.
Wang said many Hollywood studios already incorporate Chinese elements — actors, settings, plot devices — into their films.
“I think this is very normal because U.S. companies want to grab a share in the Chinese high-growth market,” he said. “They should do something to cater to Chinese audiences’ interests — if they don’t, there might be trouble.”
Wang said he was considering an initial public stock offering for a new entity that would combine Legendary with Wanda’s film production business, but he declined to elaborate. An IPO would be difficult in the current climate, given the market volatility in China.
But China’s film market is expected to surpass the size of the North American box office by 2017. The expanding box-office revenue in China — ticket sales surged nearly 50% last year — makes China an increasingly valuable market to U.S. film companies and has prompted a flurry of deals on both sides of the Pacific.
The agreement will leave Thomas Tull, the head of Legendary Entertainment, in place. Tull said that Wanda would not exercise any control over Legendary’s creative content.
“All we know how to do is make things that we want to see — whether that’s giant robots versus giant monsters, or whatever we want it to be, and our fans in China have liked it,” Tull said. “Nothing will change on that front. That’s something that Wanda has been incredibly specific about.”
In a separate conference call, Tull declined to discuss financial details of the transaction or confirm whether he retains an equity stake in the company he founded in 2005. Tull launched his business career running a chain of laundromats and previously headed the media investment firm Convex Group.
“From starting Legendary as an idea and growing into this today is a very proud moment,” Tull said. “It’s an exciting day here in Beijing.”
Japanese telecommunications firm SoftBank Group Corp. and investment firm Waddell & Reed Inc. have also agreed to sell their stakes in the company to Wanda, a person familiar with the transaction told The Times last week.
December 21, 2015-Nirvana's European tour ends with a concert at Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, and the intent is give to time to recuperate, as well as enable Cobain to report to the portion of the live-action shoot for Who Cancelled Roger Rabbit? involving Springbok figures, as well as those in other studios, production companies, record labels and so on to appear as versions of themselves, poking fun at their image.
December 25, 2015-The Hateful Eight becomes another bona fide success for Tarantino, with universal praise and $156 million at the box office.
December 28, 2015-Theron's schedule after recording lines for Kubo and the Two Strings gets shifted with an unexpected offer too good to pass up, as she gets a chance for a full-throttle action movie patterned after Keanu Reeves' recent success with the John Wick franchise. Furthermore, 87eleven Action Co., the group responsible for the stuntwork in that franchise, and who also has developed the motion-capture stunts for the Call of Duty video games, is on board with the project, entitled Atomic Blonde.
January 2, 2016-Democratic strategist James Carville is interviewed on Meet the Press as to his thoughts about why the upcoming election is quite important. "Simply put, the soul of the country is on the line here. For the past decade, the Republicans have been moving to try to rebrand themselves and turn a new leaf, but they're not quite there, even though they've certainly flipped more governorships lately and narrowed the Democrats' lead in Congress. But a victory in this election is what is needed to restore things to sanity. After another White House defeat, the extremist, vitriolic, xenophobic wing of the GOP will get out their last, nasty outburst, which could easily last all through January 20th, in a moment of catharsis. Then the Republicans will finally move to realize that in order to be a relevant and necessary force in politics again, they have to denounce the form their party has taken since Nixon's Southern Strategy. They will remain conservative, but actually adults in the room just as much as the Democrats are, and working in good faith will be restored. So when the inevitable Republican return to the White House and Congress occurs, whenever that is, it will be because the will of the people, which is overridingly centrist and always switching to correct a perceived error, genuinely wishes it so and has been done fairly. The survival of the two-party system will be assured."
January 5, 2016-The deal for Atomic Blonde, scheduled for release next year, is officially confirmed, as one for yet another Springbok series for Blockbuster Entertainment to be released in 2017, a comedy entitled Girlboss, based on the autobiography of Sophia Amoruso, the founder of the retailer Nasty Gal, which is given a 13-episode order.
January 8, 2016-Denver and Delilah Animation confirms that it has been working on a sequel to the 1992 animated feature Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, and will be released by 20th Century Fox on August 8, partially driven by the intended bump by the release of the Captain Planet reboot on June 12. The film will also be dedicated to the memory of Robin Williams, given that Cobain and Theron had been good friends of him and had been extremely affected by his suicide in August 2014.
January 9, 2016-From Variety:
"Actor Willem Dafoe, Dana Brunetti Set to Run Relativity for Ryan Kavanaugh," by James Rainey
In a blockbuster move intended to resurrect his bankrupt company, Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh has reached an agreement to have Willem Dafoe and producer/Trigger Street Productions head Dana Brunetti run Relativity’s beleaguered studio, the company confirmed late Wednesday.
The deal brings Relativity not only a well-renowned actor and an acclaimed producer, but also their Trigger Street Productions, producer of House of Cards. The acquisition of the production company marks a major coup for Kavanaugh, who could not prevent his company from sliding into Chapter 11 bankruptcy five months ago.
Relativity has been fighting to raise $100 million in new capital to help complete a reorganization that would revive the moribund movie unit. An alliance of senior creditors has already taken over the company’s television operation. A U.S. bankruptcy court judge is scheduled to consider Kavanaugh’s reorganization plan on Feb. 1.
Dafoe will become chairman of Relativity Studios and Brunetti president as of mid-February, according to the announcement. The duo will oversee all creative content and film production for the company. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I am thrilled to welcome Willem and Dana to Relativity,” Kavanaugh said in a statement. “Willem's incredible success as a star and last ten years as a producer to keep Trigger Street not only afloat, but as the producer of House of Cards speaks for itself. Dana has remarkable instincts and an impressive track record of producing films such as Casino Jack, The Social Network, Margin Call and Captain Phillips. Both men share my passion for film and Relativity’s unique 360-degree content engine, and I could not be more excited to partner with such talented professionals.”
Kavanaugh’s reputation has taken a beating in the months leading up to a July 30 bankruptcy filing and since then, as his company registered liabilities of $1.2 billion and assets of $560 million. One financial partner accused him of fraud and a major producer, Neal Moritz, also briefly charged Kavanaugh with misleading him into making a movie deal, before later revoking his accusation. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations against him and responded that his company was the victim of one-time allies who tried to undermine him to take control of Relativity.
Dafoe's own statement acknowledged that many would be stunned by the news he was joining the company.
“They thought we were crazy when we chose to do House of Cards with an online streaming service, and this move with Relativity will be proof for some that we really are crazy,” Dafoe said. But he called the move “an incredible opportunity to make great entertainment” and said he considered it the “next evolution in my career.”
“Having run an independent production company, to pick up the baton from an incredibly talented, if troubled star and keep it alive, to now be able to run a studio is a great challenge,” Dafoe said, “and I’ve learned that in the end it’s the risk-takers that are rewarded.”
Brunetti said Relativity would work to differentiate itself from other filmmakers. “While other studios are focusing on tentpoles and franchises, there is a void with an eager audience for films that are character driven with great storytelling that can be made at a reasonable budget,” Brunetti said in a statement. “Being a disruptor at heart, I look forward to the opportunities that being inside a studio system will present.”
Casting a marquee actor-producer duo in executive leadership roles is unusual in Hollywood, though not unprecedented. Tom Cruise and his longtime producing partner Paula Wagner were recruited to run United Artists in 2006 in what was billed as a boon to the actor’s then-lagging career. But the duo’s initial films did not win over audiences and parent company MGM ran into problems financing its own productions. As MGM backed off its commitment to United Artists, Wagner and Cruise split in pursuit of their own projects, with Wagner later becoming a key member of Springbok Productions.
Kavanaugh had been looking for weeks for new executives to replace the top managers, including president Tucker Tooley, who left the company last year.
Trigger Street was originally founded by Brunetti and Kevin Spacey, who had been best known for his powerhouse work in films such as Glengarry Glenn Ross, Seven, American Beauty and The Usual Suspects (for which he scored a supporting actor Oscar), but his exposure for a history of sexual misconduct against young men put an end to his career. Trigger Street was saved by financing from Springbok Productions, and Dafoe stepped in to take Spacey's role. Indeed, Dafoe's career took quite an upturn by filling out roles that might have originally gone for Spacey, in films like Casino Jack and Margin Call and video games like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Along with Brunetti, he has also been a producer known for embracing digital innovation, like an online platform offering feedback for screenwriters, as well as for backing a series of acclaimed films, including The Social Network and Captain Phillips, as well as the hit TV series House of Cards, starring Christian Bale.
A move to Relativity could give the star and his producing partner a larger platform for launching projects. It would help reestablish a measure of credibility for Kavanaugh’s film operation, which has been battered by a series of lackluster films and a financial meltdown that has delayed the release of many others. A Dafoe-Brunetti combination at Relativity would presumably help resolve some of the issues the mini-studio might otherwise have in luring talent to embark on new movies.
Brunetti has worked with Relativity in the past — reaching an accord a year ago to make a movie about the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, an episode that claimed the lives of four Americans and raised a political furor over the American response. The studio bought story rights from some of the principals on the scene of the debacle. The project is separate from the soon-to-be released 13 Hours, another Benghazi-themed film, from Paramount.
Brunetti, it is fair to assume, also will want to continue as a producer on other films.
Season four of House of Cards will premiere on March 6.
January 11, 2016-From the Los Angeles Times:
"China's Dalian Wanda Group Buys Legendary Entertainment for up to $3.5 billion," by Jonathan Kaiman
BEIJING — Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group has acquired Legendary Entertainment, the Hollywood production company behind The Dark Knight, Jurassic World and Godzilla movies.
At a signing ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday morning, Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin announced that his company had signed an agreement to buy the Burbank production company for as much as $3.5 billion in cash.
The deal represents the largest acquisition to date of a U.S. production company by a Chinese firm and the latest sign of the deepening ties between Hollywood and the world’s most populous country.
“We already have a big impact in China, however this is not enough — we have to have a global vision,” Wang, China’s richest man, said at a news conference, an elaborate affair featuring flashing lights and long rows of models in sequin dresses.
“We have to have a position in the global industry,” Wang said. “And a few American movie companies have these commanding heights of the movie industry in the world. We want to change this situation and the landscape.”
Wanda, which began as a commercial real estate firm, has grown into a massive
diversified conglomerate in recent years, with holdings including luxury hotels, entertainment companies and e-commerce firms.
The company’s subsidiary Wanda Cinema Line is China’s biggest cinema chain, with a 14.5% share in the country’s burgeoning box office.
Wang, a former military officer, has made other forays into global markets and into the U.S. entertainment industry. In 2012, he acquired AMC Theatres, North America’s second-largest cinema chain, for $2.6 billion. A year later, Wanda donated $20 million to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its film museum on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art campus.
Buying Legendary fits Wanda’s goal of creating a global media company and becoming a major player in film production. Wanda is building what it touts as “the world’s largest film and television studio” in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao.
Spread across more than 400 acres, Wanda Studios Qingdao will house 30 soundstages, a permanent facsimile of a New York City street, a temperature-controlled underwater stage, the country’s largest exterior water tank and postproduction facilities.
The first phase of the studio is scheduled to open in 2017, and the company is seeking to lure both Chinese and international productions to the facility.
On Tuesday, Wang said that the acquisition will help Legendary Entertainment navigate access to the Chinese market, which is protected by a government-imposed limit on the number of foreign films released in the country each year. He brushed off questions about government censorship and allegations that that U.S. film companies have bowed to censors’ demands to gain a piece of the Chinese market.
Wang said many Hollywood studios already incorporate Chinese elements — actors, settings, plot devices — into their films.
“I think this is very normal because U.S. companies want to grab a share in the Chinese high-growth market,” he said. “They should do something to cater to Chinese audiences’ interests — if they don’t, there might be trouble.”
Wang said he was considering an initial public stock offering for a new entity that would combine Legendary with Wanda’s film production business, but he declined to elaborate. An IPO would be difficult in the current climate, given the market volatility in China.
But China’s film market is expected to surpass the size of the North American box office by 2017. The expanding box-office revenue in China — ticket sales surged nearly 50% last year — makes China an increasingly valuable market to U.S. film companies and has prompted a flurry of deals on both sides of the Pacific.
The agreement will leave Thomas Tull, the head of Legendary Entertainment, in place. Tull said that Wanda would not exercise any control over Legendary’s creative content.
“All we know how to do is make things that we want to see — whether that’s giant robots versus giant monsters, or whatever we want it to be, and our fans in China have liked it,” Tull said. “Nothing will change on that front. That’s something that Wanda has been incredibly specific about.”
In a separate conference call, Tull declined to discuss financial details of the transaction or confirm whether he retains an equity stake in the company he founded in 2005. Tull launched his business career running a chain of laundromats and previously headed the media investment firm Convex Group.
“From starting Legendary as an idea and growing into this today is a very proud moment,” Tull said. “It’s an exciting day here in Beijing.”
Japanese telecommunications firm SoftBank Group Corp. and investment firm Waddell & Reed Inc. have also agreed to sell their stakes in the company to Wanda, a person familiar with the transaction told The Times last week.
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(Nah, it was intended for 2016. Ask if you need to be updated on the plot.)
(He's the main protagonist, who parodies and satirizes conservative pundits. And that works.)
January 15, 2016-Intending to make a statement about the state of the country, Springbok officially approves a small-scale scripted project called The Little GOP That Could, a satiric musical involving a Republican-oriented news pundit and his best friend, a GOP political strategist, played respectively by Sacha Baron Cohen and Michael Keaton, with the latter character's singing dubbed by legendary voice actor Jim Cummings. Alan Menken and Glenn Slater have a group of songs for the $15 million film, which will have a six-week shooting schedule, with co-production by Skydance Media, Jay Roach's Everyman Pictures, Cohen's Four By Two Productions, and Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions. United Artists and Annapurna Pictures will release the film on October 9, in time for the election this fall.
January 21, 2016-Final trailers for Dawn of Justice is released prior to its March 25 opening.
January 26, 2016-Amblin Partners releases its first corporate structure document to the public, showing that DreamWorks Pictures will be used for mature stories, Participant Media for films with themes of social justice, and Amblin Entertainment, while it will still be used for R-rated films as it has in the past, will predominantly focus on family-friendly material.
January 31, 2016-After having finished all his scenes, Cobain rejoins with Nirvana for an Australasian tour.
February 2, 2016-American Crime Story opens with the first season, The People v. O.J. Simpson, which receives immense praise and ratings. Over the years, the series proves itself quite formidable and renowned, especially as it includes stories such as the murder of Gianni Versace; Hurricane Katrina; the crimes of Harvey Weinstein, Bryan Singer, Kevin Spacey and David Geffen; the rise and fall of Enron; the fall of Bill Cosby; Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the case of the West Memphis Three; the legal travails of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter; the Billionaire Boys Club; Bernie Madoff; McCarthyism; the legal troubles of Vince McMahon and the WWE; the studio system's culpability for the addictions and death of Judy Garland; and Scientology, especially under the leadership of David Miscavige.
February 5, 2016-Hail, Caesar! opens to largely positive reviews and makes $63.6 million during its run.
February 8, 2016-Shooting for The Little GOP That Could begins at once.
February 11, 2016-Rumors emerge that Springbok is officially ready to commit to the long-planned Queen and Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and that Paul Greengrass, still in the midst of filming Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back, is being considered for the director's job.
January 21, 2016-Final trailers for Dawn of Justice is released prior to its March 25 opening.
January 26, 2016-Amblin Partners releases its first corporate structure document to the public, showing that DreamWorks Pictures will be used for mature stories, Participant Media for films with themes of social justice, and Amblin Entertainment, while it will still be used for R-rated films as it has in the past, will predominantly focus on family-friendly material.
January 31, 2016-After having finished all his scenes, Cobain rejoins with Nirvana for an Australasian tour.
February 2, 2016-American Crime Story opens with the first season, The People v. O.J. Simpson, which receives immense praise and ratings. Over the years, the series proves itself quite formidable and renowned, especially as it includes stories such as the murder of Gianni Versace; Hurricane Katrina; the crimes of Harvey Weinstein, Bryan Singer, Kevin Spacey and David Geffen; the rise and fall of Enron; the fall of Bill Cosby; Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the case of the West Memphis Three; the legal travails of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter; the Billionaire Boys Club; Bernie Madoff; McCarthyism; the legal troubles of Vince McMahon and the WWE; the studio system's culpability for the addictions and death of Judy Garland; and Scientology, especially under the leadership of David Miscavige.
February 5, 2016-Hail, Caesar! opens to largely positive reviews and makes $63.6 million during its run.
February 8, 2016-Shooting for The Little GOP That Could begins at once.
February 11, 2016-Rumors emerge that Springbok is officially ready to commit to the long-planned Queen and Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and that Paul Greengrass, still in the midst of filming Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back, is being considered for the director's job.
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February 12, 2016-Deadpool opens to become the highest-grossing film remotely connected to the X-Men franchise, as well as surpassing The Passion of the Christ as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, with almost $783 million.
February 15, 2016-From Deadline Hollywood:
Mel Gibson Grabs the Steering Wheel Once More
Effective today, Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey's Dendy Icon Group is once again complete. Thanks to an infusion of $7.5 billion from the likes of Springbok Productions, James Packer, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett and Soros Capital Fund Management, Icon Productions has officially reclaimed the Icon UK Group (except for Access Industries' AI Film Productions), including Icon Film Distribution UK, Icon Entertainment International, the Majestic Films and Television Library, and the executives in these divisions as part of their umbrella, alongside Icon Productions proper and Icon Film Distribution Australia, including the Dendy Cinemas chain Down Under. The leftover money now are operating costs for Icon to restart its North American film and television divisions. Gibson will be president of the new Icon, with Bruce Davey remaining chairman of the board, Mark Gooder as COO and Vicki Christianson as CEO. All UK and Australian executives will remain in their jobs, and Icon UK and Icon Australia's output and deals will not be affected, and operate with considerable autonomy.
The news comes right on the heels of Icon's recent reteaming with Springbok for a three-picture deal and Gibson's return to directing with the forthcoming film Hacksaw Ridge. All of the above represents Gibson's latest chance for a comeback after a troubled history over the past decade. This thus raises the stakes considerably for Gibson to ensure that the third time's the charm, as his last attempt at redemption did not go off so well.
"I'm very pleased with the development and the rebuilding of the Dendy Icon family," Davey said in a statement. "It feels like a homecoming, and I know that the new Icon is stronger than the old one. Mel and I will churn out passionate projects and make the most of this chance."
"Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey are an impeccable team in Hollywood," Christianson said. "I've always been so blessed to have been involved with Icon at some capacity since its founding, and I am happy to help lead it into the future."
After Ridge, Icon will move right on to production of The Professor and the Madman, which will begin lensing in England this summer. Icon is already looking at ideas with which to relaunch its television production slate, including a possible deal with Blockbuster Entertainment.
February 18, 2016-Disney announces that Pixar Plaza will be the first of the new gates at Disney World to open, and will open to the public on May 5. Among the park's layout will include a scale replica of Pixar's headquarters in Emeryville, California, to host a special museum of the company's history with artifacts and an educational film at the end of the experience. There is also a special guest experience, that may or may not be temporary, to help promote the upcoming release Finding Dory.
February 25, 2016-Filming of Atomic Blonde begins in Budapest.
March 1, 2016-From a press release:
beIN Media Group Acquires Miramax
Acquisition confirms beIN Media Group’s position as one of the fastest growing global media and entertainment companies, Miramax to continue operating as an independent film and television studio under new ownership
DOHA / LOS ANGELES- beIN Media Group (“beIN Media”) announced today that it has acquired 100% of Miramax, one of the most distinguished and recognizable brands in entertainment and synonymous with award-winning and original content.
Selling shareholders include Qatar Investment Authority (“QIA”) and Colony Capital.
In 2016, Miramax will invest in and co-distribute several upcoming feature films including Bad Santa 2, Bridget Jones’ Baby, and Southside With You, as well as the television show From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series heading into its third season. Miramax returned to production of new films with 2014’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. Last year Miramax’s slate included the critically acclaimed Mr. Holmes, one of the year’s most successful independent films, and the comedy hit The Wedding Ringer.
Additionally, Miramax continues to thrive with its library, which (while it remains under the physical ownership of Disney and has been rebranded to their Touchstone Pictures division, but which has been securitized by the current company to help ride the growing trends of the past decade) holds hundreds of titles that collectively have garnered hundreds of Academy Award nominations and several dozen Oscars, and includes films such as Sex, Lies and Videotape, My Left Foot, Cinema Paradiso, Clerks, The Crow, Heavenly Creatures, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Bridget Jones’ Diary and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Films that Disney developed under Touchstone Pictures but considered spiritually Miramax films include Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Kill Bill, Chicago, The Libertine, Cold Mountain, Gangs of New York and Gone Baby Gone.
Commenting on the transaction, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of beIN Media Group, said: “We are extremely excited to have achieved this key milestone within our strategy. Miramax is a successful film and television company, providing a strong and recognizable brand, a unique library and industry expertise that complement beIN Media Group’s plans to grow across the entertainment industry and develop new content production. As part of beIN Media Group, we will support Miramax in continuing to build this exciting platform. We very much look forward to working with the Miramax team.”
“Miramax is one of the most iconic film brands in the world, housing a collection of the most celebrated and valued content libraries and management teams in Hollywood. In 2010, we were given the opportunity to shepherd the creative genius of the Weinsteins and Disney into the 21st century and share their mastery with the world by expanding distribution on a global basis through theatrical, digital and online providers. By riding the secular wave into online streaming via securitization with Disney’s permission, we successfully returned our partners’ capital many times over and safeguarded the passion, dedication and hard work of the library’s true artistic masters. Colony has done its job in repositioning the company to independent prominence and profitability as not only a library but a renowned producer of independent film and television. Our sale to beIN will provide not only additional stewardship for these irreplaceable films but a best of class strategic owner focused on expansion of production and the betterment of the Miramax brand. We are fortunate to have found Nasser Al-Khelaifi and beIN Media Group as the best of global class curator for the purpose of Miramax’s growth and continued legacy,” said Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., founder of Colony Capital.
Steve Schoch, CEO of Miramax said: “This is an exciting time in the evolution of our company, and we are thrilled to be a part of beIN Media Group. Miramax’s growing 2016 slate is a testament to the incredible work of the team thus far to build on the proud Miramax legacy. In concert with beIN leadership, we look forward to further expanding our film and television output, broadening our distribution capabilities and fortifying our position as the premiere independent studio brand.”
February 15, 2016-From Deadline Hollywood:
Mel Gibson Grabs the Steering Wheel Once More
Effective today, Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey's Dendy Icon Group is once again complete. Thanks to an infusion of $7.5 billion from the likes of Springbok Productions, James Packer, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett and Soros Capital Fund Management, Icon Productions has officially reclaimed the Icon UK Group (except for Access Industries' AI Film Productions), including Icon Film Distribution UK, Icon Entertainment International, the Majestic Films and Television Library, and the executives in these divisions as part of their umbrella, alongside Icon Productions proper and Icon Film Distribution Australia, including the Dendy Cinemas chain Down Under. The leftover money now are operating costs for Icon to restart its North American film and television divisions. Gibson will be president of the new Icon, with Bruce Davey remaining chairman of the board, Mark Gooder as COO and Vicki Christianson as CEO. All UK and Australian executives will remain in their jobs, and Icon UK and Icon Australia's output and deals will not be affected, and operate with considerable autonomy.
The news comes right on the heels of Icon's recent reteaming with Springbok for a three-picture deal and Gibson's return to directing with the forthcoming film Hacksaw Ridge. All of the above represents Gibson's latest chance for a comeback after a troubled history over the past decade. This thus raises the stakes considerably for Gibson to ensure that the third time's the charm, as his last attempt at redemption did not go off so well.
"I'm very pleased with the development and the rebuilding of the Dendy Icon family," Davey said in a statement. "It feels like a homecoming, and I know that the new Icon is stronger than the old one. Mel and I will churn out passionate projects and make the most of this chance."
"Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey are an impeccable team in Hollywood," Christianson said. "I've always been so blessed to have been involved with Icon at some capacity since its founding, and I am happy to help lead it into the future."
After Ridge, Icon will move right on to production of The Professor and the Madman, which will begin lensing in England this summer. Icon is already looking at ideas with which to relaunch its television production slate, including a possible deal with Blockbuster Entertainment.
February 18, 2016-Disney announces that Pixar Plaza will be the first of the new gates at Disney World to open, and will open to the public on May 5. Among the park's layout will include a scale replica of Pixar's headquarters in Emeryville, California, to host a special museum of the company's history with artifacts and an educational film at the end of the experience. There is also a special guest experience, that may or may not be temporary, to help promote the upcoming release Finding Dory.
February 25, 2016-Filming of Atomic Blonde begins in Budapest.
March 1, 2016-From a press release:
beIN Media Group Acquires Miramax
Acquisition confirms beIN Media Group’s position as one of the fastest growing global media and entertainment companies, Miramax to continue operating as an independent film and television studio under new ownership
DOHA / LOS ANGELES- beIN Media Group (“beIN Media”) announced today that it has acquired 100% of Miramax, one of the most distinguished and recognizable brands in entertainment and synonymous with award-winning and original content.
Selling shareholders include Qatar Investment Authority (“QIA”) and Colony Capital.
In 2016, Miramax will invest in and co-distribute several upcoming feature films including Bad Santa 2, Bridget Jones’ Baby, and Southside With You, as well as the television show From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series heading into its third season. Miramax returned to production of new films with 2014’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. Last year Miramax’s slate included the critically acclaimed Mr. Holmes, one of the year’s most successful independent films, and the comedy hit The Wedding Ringer.
Additionally, Miramax continues to thrive with its library, which (while it remains under the physical ownership of Disney and has been rebranded to their Touchstone Pictures division, but which has been securitized by the current company to help ride the growing trends of the past decade) holds hundreds of titles that collectively have garnered hundreds of Academy Award nominations and several dozen Oscars, and includes films such as Sex, Lies and Videotape, My Left Foot, Cinema Paradiso, Clerks, The Crow, Heavenly Creatures, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Bridget Jones’ Diary and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Films that Disney developed under Touchstone Pictures but considered spiritually Miramax films include Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Kill Bill, Chicago, The Libertine, Cold Mountain, Gangs of New York and Gone Baby Gone.
Commenting on the transaction, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of beIN Media Group, said: “We are extremely excited to have achieved this key milestone within our strategy. Miramax is a successful film and television company, providing a strong and recognizable brand, a unique library and industry expertise that complement beIN Media Group’s plans to grow across the entertainment industry and develop new content production. As part of beIN Media Group, we will support Miramax in continuing to build this exciting platform. We very much look forward to working with the Miramax team.”
“Miramax is one of the most iconic film brands in the world, housing a collection of the most celebrated and valued content libraries and management teams in Hollywood. In 2010, we were given the opportunity to shepherd the creative genius of the Weinsteins and Disney into the 21st century and share their mastery with the world by expanding distribution on a global basis through theatrical, digital and online providers. By riding the secular wave into online streaming via securitization with Disney’s permission, we successfully returned our partners’ capital many times over and safeguarded the passion, dedication and hard work of the library’s true artistic masters. Colony has done its job in repositioning the company to independent prominence and profitability as not only a library but a renowned producer of independent film and television. Our sale to beIN will provide not only additional stewardship for these irreplaceable films but a best of class strategic owner focused on expansion of production and the betterment of the Miramax brand. We are fortunate to have found Nasser Al-Khelaifi and beIN Media Group as the best of global class curator for the purpose of Miramax’s growth and continued legacy,” said Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., founder of Colony Capital.
Steve Schoch, CEO of Miramax said: “This is an exciting time in the evolution of our company, and we are thrilled to be a part of beIN Media Group. Miramax’s growing 2016 slate is a testament to the incredible work of the team thus far to build on the proud Miramax legacy. In concert with beIN leadership, we look forward to further expanding our film and television output, broadening our distribution capabilities and fortifying our position as the premiere independent studio brand.”
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