Tag: Cross Creek Pictures

Johnny Depp To Star As Whitey Bulger In Director Barry Levinson’s BLACK MASS

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" Press Conference - 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Johnny Depp has been attached to Cross Creek’s crime thriller BLACK MASS as Boston’s most notorious gangster, Whitey Bulger, to be co-produced and co-financed with Exclusive Media, and directed by Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson (RAIN MAN), it was announced today by Cross Creek Pictures President Brian Oliver and Senior Vice President Tyler Thompson and Exclusive Media’s Co-Chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.

BLACK MASS will be released by Universal Pictures in the US through Cross Creek’s distribution deal with the studio. The film is scheduled for a May 2013 start date.

The film will be produced by Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson, Nigel Sinclair, Tobin Armbrust, John Lesher, and Christi Dembrowski. Cross Creek Pictures Sr. VP of Production Adam Kassan, will oversee production for the company. Alex Walton, Exclusive Media’s President of International Sales and Distribution, will introduce BLACK MASS to overseas buyers at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.

Cross Creek recently purchased the New York Times bestselling book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, written by former Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerald O’Neill and published in 2001 by Harper Collins. O’Neill is a Pulitzer, Hancock and Loeb prizes winner and Lehr, a Pulitzer finalist, has also won the Hancock and Loeb awards. Writer Mark Mallouk wrote a completely new screenplay adaptation of the book, following the June 2011 capture of Bulger, who had been on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for more than a decade.

“I could not be more thrilled to have the biggest star in the world and Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson to finally bring this incredible story to the big screen. We have been working on this project since we originally optioned the book in 2005. Black Mass expertly details the twists and turns of this highly complex story, painting a vivid portrait of Boston’s underbelly and its corrupt political machine, as well as exposing the worst scandal in FBI history. It’s also an examination of loyalty to family, Irish heritage, and South Boston.– Commented Brian Oliver.

“We are thrilled by the opportunity to bring Mark Mallouk’s terrific screenplay to the screen with perhaps this generation’s biggest and best actor and a director who’s work makes him one of America’s iconic filmmakers. Occasionally a film project comes along that is truly exceptional – from the terrific subject matter to the chance to collaborate again with our long time friends and partners at Cross Creek, and to have the opportunity work with the unique and inimitable Johnny Depp. We are truly delighted to be involved in BLACK MASS,” commented Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.

BLACK MASS tells the true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf. However, after the Feds closed in on their targets, they double crossed Bulger and ultimately prosecuted him, along with his partner in crime and the original FBI agent working with him.

Cross Creek Pictures and Exclusive Media enjoy a fruitful partnership having jointly co-produced George Clooney’s THE IDES OF MARCH with Smokehouse Pictures, the box office hit THE WOMAN IN BLACK starring Daniel Radcliffe and the highly anticipated RUSH directed by Ron Howard and starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl. Currently in production, RUSH is also produced with Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Brian Grazer, and Revolution Films. Universal Pictures will release the film in the US in 2013.  The companies are co-producing and co-financing A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES starring Liam Neeson and Exclusive Media’s Hammer label titles BONESHAKER and THE WOMAN IN BLACK follow up, THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH from a story by Susan Hill.

The deal was negotiated by Tracey Jacobs, Jake Bloom and Micheal Schenkman for Depp and Jeremy Zimmer and Barry Hirsch for Levinson as well as Eric Greenfeld on behalf of Cross Creek and Exclusive Media.

Cross Creek’s first production, Darren Aronofsky’s BLACK SWAN, grossed approximately $330 million worldwide and was nominated for four Golden Globe awards, with a win for Natalie Portman for Best Actress and five Academy Awards with Natalie Portman again winning Best Actress.  Its follow up was George Clooney’s THE IDES OF MARCH, which garnered four Golden Globe nominations and an Academy awardnomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. CBS Films released Cross Creek’s THE WOMAN IN BLACK, starring Daniel Radcliffe. The film has grossed over $130 million worldwide.

Hammer, Alliance Films, And Cross Creek Pictures Re-Team With Author Susan Hill On Next Installment Of THE WOMAN IN BLACK

Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media and President & CEO of Hammer and Guy East and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairmen of Exclusive Media, Hammer’s parent company, announced today that Hammer and Talisman are in development on Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black: Angels Of Death, a new film which continues the story of The Woman in Black 40 years on.

The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe and directed by James Watkins (Eden Lake) has become the highest grossing British horror film of the past 20 years, grossing over $33 million in the UK and recently crossing the $120 million box office mark worldwide.

Screenwriter Jon Croker (Desert Dancer) is now developing the screenplay for the next instalment in the series, The Woman in Black: Angels Of Death, based on an original story by Hill, under development for the past few years and now complete.

The Woman in Black was set in the early 1900’s and based on the tale of a young lawyer who is ordered to travel to a remote corner of the UK, to sort out the papers of a recently deceased client. In the eerie setting of Eel Marsh House he discovers the vengeful ghost of The Woman in Black. This next instalment, The Woman in Black: Angels Of Death, will continue this story four decades later and focus on the concept of a couple and the experience they have when they encounter the haunted setting of Eel Marsh House.

The Woman in Black: Angels Of Death will be brought to the big screen by the same production team behind The Woman In Black. The Film will be produced by Exclusive Media, Talisman, Cross Creek Pictures and Alliance Films, in addition to Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, who will serve as Executive Producer.

Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media and President & CEO of Hammer Films said: “We are proud and honoured to be working with Susan again on The Woman in Black: Angels Of Death, a wonderful new tale every bit as atmospheric and terrifying as its predecessor The Woman in Black.”

Nigel Sinclair Co-Chairman and CEO of Exclusive Media added: “It’s thrilling to be able to work with someone of Susan’s literary calibre on such a fascinating project. It’s also fantastic to have Jon on board again to help bring this new story to life on the big screen.”

Cross Creek Pictures currently has more than 10 projects in various stages of development, including Black Mass, which Russell Gerwitz (Inside Man) is adapting from a book of the same title and tells the true story of an unholy alliance between the FBI and the Boston Irish mob led by James “Whitey” Bulger; the comedy Bathing Suits,” written by Buck Henry; McQueen, a Steve McQueen biopic written by James Gray and starring Jeremy Renner; the crime drama Delivering Gen, written by Kurt Sutter; and the untitled Colin Firth and Emily Blunt project.

Cross Creek Pictures And Exclusive’s Hammer Films To Co-Produce Adaptation Of Cherie Priest Novel BONESHAKER

Brian Oliver, President of Cross Creek Pictures, Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media Group and President & CEO of Hammer Films and Guy East and Nigel Sinclair, Co-Chairmen of Exclusive Media Group (“Exclusive”) announced today that Hammer has acquired the rights to the novel “Boneshaker” by Cherie Priest for adaptation to the big screen. Project will be co-produced by Hammer and Cross Creek Pictures and co-financed by Exclusive and Cross Creek Pictures.

John Hilary Shepherd, a 2010 WGA Award nominee for his work on the first season of the Showtime series, “Nurse Jackie,” is writing the screenplay. Tobin Armbrust, Head of Production is overseeing the project’s development for Hammer Films.

An example of “steampunk” science-fiction, which incorporates futuristic innovations into a Victorian setting, Priest’s novel is set in an alternate version of 1880s Seattle, where the city has been walled in and a toxic gas has turned many of its remaining residents into “Rotters,” more commonly known as zombies. A young widow hunts for her teen son in the Seattle underworld, while dealing with airship pirates, a criminal overlord and heavily armed refugees. “Boneshaker” was nominated for a 2010 Hugo Award for Best Novel, and won the 2010 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.

The novel, published in 2009 by Tor Books, is the first in a series set in the same Civil War-period, alternate-world Priest has dubbed “The Clockwork Century.” The series’ second novel “Dreadnought” was published in 2010 and the third novel titled “Ganymede” was recently released online and in bookstores on September 27th.

Tor Books is releasing the fourth novel in the series in 2012 titled “Inexplicables,” and last week announced a deal with Cherie Priest for her to write a fifth novel in “The Clockwork Century” series. The fifth book will be called “Fiddlehead.”

“First and foremost this is a great story. Bringing a steampunk style novel to life on the big screen is going to be very cool, very unique,” said Tobin Armbrust.

“Boneshaker is a classic zombie movie with a modern twist which is quintessentially Hammer so it’s a perfect fit for us,” said Simon Oakes. “Cherie Priest’s steampunk series are fantastic with a distinct, unique style and we’re really looking forward to bringing her ‘Rotters’ to the big screen.”

“It’s like Jules Verne meets ‘Resident Evil,’ and we’re thrilled to have such a fun, commercial potential franchise in Boneshaker,” says Oliver. He continues: “John’s an exciting screenwriter and we see this being a real crowd pleaser.”

This is the latest in a number of projects Cross Creek Pictures and Exclusive have teamed on, including George Clooney’s “The Ides of March,” which opened nationwide on October 7th through Sony Pictures, the upcoming “The Woman in Black” starring Daniel Radcliffe, which CBS Films has set to release February 3rd, 2012 and Ron Howard’s Formula 1 film “Rush” starring Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth with production partners Imagine, Revolution Films and Working Title.

Cherie Priest was represented in the deal by Jennifer Jackson of the Donald Maass Literary Agency and John Hilary Shepherd was repped by attorney Joan Vento-Hall.

ABOUT CROSS CREEK PICTURES

Cross Creek Pictures, formed by Timmy Thompson and Brian Oliver, is an independent film production and finance company that has a mandate of developing and strengthening the collaborative relationship between filmmakers and financiers. The firm recently inked a deal with Universal Pictures for a three-year distribution deal that will cover a minimum of six pictures produced and financed by Cross Creek Pictures. The company fully finances its films through its private equity fund, tax incentives and international sales. The goal is to finance up to five films a year with ranging budgets. The company currently has over ten projects in various stages of development, including “Black Mass,” which Russell Gerwitz (“Inside Man”) is adapting from a book of the same title and tells the true story of an unholy alliance between the FBI and the Boston Irish mob led by James “Whitey” Bulger, the comedy “Bathing Suits,” written by Buck Henry, “McQueen,” a Steve McQueen biopic written by James Gray and starring Jeremy Renner, the crime drama “Delivering Gen”, written by Kurt Sutter, and the untitled Colin Firth and Emily Blunt project. Cross Creek’s first production, Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan,” grossed approximately $330 million worldwide. The company most recently opened George Clooney’s “The Ides of March,” which premiered to great acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, released in October, 2011 by Sony Pictures, and “The Woman in Black” starring Daniel Radcliffe, set for a 2012 release by CBS Films. The company is currently readying the production of the Ron Howard’s “Rush” for Universal Pictures. The biopic stars Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl as the F1 rivals Niki Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s.

ABOUT HAMMER FILMS

Hammer is the legendary British film brand, which was originally launched in 1934 and delivered a hugely successful run of films in the 1950s including Gothic classics “Dracula” and “The Curse of Frankenstein” and Sci-Fi picture “The Quatermass Xperiment.” Hammer’s reputation became branded worldwide as ‘Hammer House of Horror’. In the 1960s Hammer struck distribution deals with Universal, Warner Brothers, Fox and Columbia. Hammer went on to produce a huge volume of films which included such titles as “The Plague of Zombie,” “The Nanny,” “Quatermass and the Pit,” “The Devil Rides Out” and “One Million Years B.C.” Not in production since the 1980s, the company’s brand has new investment in the development and production of film, television and digital-platform content by Exclusive Media Group (“Exclusive”). Hammer’s return to horror was heralded by interactive web serial “Beyond the Rave,” which was broadcast by MySpace in 12 territories in 2008. Today, Hammer has an active development slate across diverse genres sourced out of both Europe and the United States. Hammer recently released “The Resident,” which stars two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Boys Don’t Cry”) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (“Watchmen”) and is directed by Antti Jokinen, “Let Me In”, an adaptation of the highly acclaimed Swedish Film, “Lat den Ratte Komma In,” a.k.a. “Let the Right One In”, written and directed by Matt Reeves (“Cloverfield”). Hammer Films is currently in postproduction on “The Woman in Black.”

ABOUT EXCLUSIVE MEDIA GROUP (“EXCLUSIVE”)

Exclusive Media Group (“Exclusive”) is a vertically integrated global filmed entertainment company, founded in May 2008 with the backing of the strategic investment group Cyrte Investments. Exclusive develops, finances, produces, markets and distributes prestige and talent driven commercial and documentary feature films on a global basis. Exclusive is run by a five member Executive Board with Nigel Sinclair as Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Guy East as Co-Chairman, Simon Oakes as Vice Chairman and President of Hammer Films, Marc Schipper as Chief Operating Officer, and Randy Hermann as Chief Financial Officer. Supporting the Executive Board in both the operational management and strategic expansion of the business is a strong team of highly skilled professionals who have a broad range of complementary experience. Exclusive’s development and production activities operate through three specialist labels: UK based Hammer Films for genre titles, Spitfire Pictures for documentary features and the flagship label Exclusive Media for all other feature film production. Exclusive’s international sales & distribution division maintains a strong marketing presence and represents the group’s in-house productions plus its growing library of over 550 titles, as well as actively acquiring third party feature films to further strengthen its international distribution slate.