Universal Pictures, Working Title Films Extend Production Deal Through 2015

Universal Pictures and Contraband, Les Miserables, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyproducer Working Title Films have extended their production deal through 2015, the companies announced Friday.

The production deal was scheduled to expire in 2013.

There are a few differences between the new deal and the old. The biggest change is that it will be a first-look deal, rather than an exclusive arrangement.

Here’s Universal’s announcement:

NEWS RELEASE

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND WORKING TITLE FILMS EXTEND PRODUCTION DEAL THROUGH 2015

Pact Continues Universal’s Long-Standing Relationship with Premiere International Production Company 

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 27, 2012—Universal Pictures and Working Title Films today announced they will extend their production agreement through 2015. During Universal and Working Title’s long run together, the two companies have produced films that have grossed more than 4.25 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Universal Chairman, Adam Fogelson and Co-Chairman, Donna Langley made the announcement alongside Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

“Working Title has been an invaluable partner for Universal with our two companies enjoying tremendous success on films that have delighted audiences all over the world,” said Fogelson and Langley. “Tim and Eric are true leaders in the global production space which gives us more of an opportunity to be in business with some of the best international talent and we’re thrilled to be extending our partnership.”

“We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with our friends at Universal,” said Bevan and Fellner. “It has been a long and fruitful relationship and we are very much looking forward to more successes over the coming years.”

The new deal, will replace the deal set to expire in 2013 and will be structured to bring it in line with Universal’s other current production agreements. It will also be a first-look deal, rather than an exclusive arrangement.

Universal and Working title have garnered critical acclaim with Academy Award®-nominated/winning films such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Billy Elliot, Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Frost/Nixon, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Fargo. Working Title’s vast library includes Burn After Reading, Notting Hill, O Brother Where Art Thou, About a Boy, Love Actually, The Interpreter, Mr. Bean’s Holiday, as well as the Nanny McPhee, Johnny English and the Bridget Jones franchises. Most recently, they released the 2012 action-thriller, Contraband.

The critically acclaimed and award winning production company whose production deal began with Universal in 1999, recently commenced shooting of Tom Hooper’s motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation, Les Misérables starring Hugh Jackman and Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Sasha Baron Cohen, Amanda Seyfried and Helena Bonham Carter. The film is also being produced by Cameron MacKintosh. Working Title is also in production on Rush, the biography of Formula 1 champions Niki Lauda and James Hunt, with Ron Howard directing a script by Peter Morgan. Working Title will produce this film alongside Imagine Entertainment and Revolution. They also recently commenced production on John Crowley’s Closed, starring Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall.

Working Title will release Anna Karenina directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Johnson through Focus Features domestically and UPI internationally in the autumn of 2012.

About Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

About Working Title

Working Title Films, co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner since 1992, is Europe’s leading film production company, making movies that defy boundaries as well as demographics. Founded in 1983, Working Title has produced 100 films that have grossed more than $5 billion worldwide. Its films have won 6 Academy Awards, 26 BAFTA Awards, and prestigious prizes at the Cannes and Berlin International Film Festivals.

– Joshua L. Weinstein

‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ Sequel Looking to David Koepp to Write

Snow White and the Huntsman hasn’t even hit theaters yet (June 1 is soon though), and Universal already is pushing forward with a sequel. The studio, according to Deadline’s Mike Fleming, is in discussions with David Koepp to write the the follow-up to the Kristen Stewart epic adaptation of the classic fairy tale.

Koepp’s a pretty big name in the writing world. With movies like Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, and War of the Worlds under his belt, Koepp is a natural choice for an action epic, if the studio has faith in the franchise. So good news, KStew fans: SWATH is poised for success. Plus, the project is a top priority for the studio, as they’re hoping to get director Rupert Sanders to return to shoot the sequel immediately.

– Cindy Kaplan

Christina Ricci Going Blue

Christina Ricci is about to go blue.

Christina Ricci wears Smurf blue -- as a Pan Am flight attendant

The Sleepy Hollow and Monster star has joined the cast of the sequel to Sony’s 2011 hit The Smurfs, The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit is reporting.

Don’t expect Ricci to play some chumpy Smurfette. In the next Surfs go-round, she’s the evil Vexi.

Raja Gosnell directed last year’s Smurfs, and will be back for the sequel, to be released July 31, 2013. Much of the original cast is expected to return, as well.

Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris, and Sofia Vergara starred in The Smurfs, which took in $564 million worldwide.

Ricci starred in ABC’s Pan Am, an attempt, along with NBC’s The Playboy Club, to exploit the ethusiasm for the 1960s that Mad Men created.

The show also gave Ricci a chance to dress all in blue. Like a Smurf.

– Joshua L. Weinstein

Kelly Oxford Sells Comedy Spec to Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. picked up a comedy spec script, Son of a Bitch, from writer Kelly Oxford.  The deal for the comedy  – pitched as tonally similar to Bridesmaids, centering on a young stoner who gets pregnant but tries to keep up her bad party girl image – was in the low to mid six figure range.  That’s a pretty great deal for Oxford, who makes her feature debut with this script.  She’s sold pilots before, and is best known for her Twitter feed, which, as Deadline reports, was named in the top 140 feeds in Time Magazine’s 2011 and 2012 rankings.

Some noteable tweets:

kelly oxford @kellyoxford7d

3yr old just told me she and her best friend own the color pink. She is so full of shit.

A great relationship is when you notice your guy has just outfarted a giant fart from 2yrs ago and all you think is ‘Oh my god he did it!!!

If Drake asks you out on a date, and he shows up as Wheelchair Jimmy, you know you’re the one.

The world won’t change until there’s a tampon commercial where the girls are all curled up on couches and angrily drinking wine.

I never feel more alone than when I’m on a toilet and realize there is no toilet paper.

Totally see the Bridesmaids comparisons, and if the script is as snappy as her tweets, I’d say we’re in for a treat.  What do you think – does this sound like the sort of original material you’d like to see studios pick up?

– Cindy Kaplan

‘The Pirates! Band of Misfits’ Looks Fun — But Is It the Best Pirate Film Ever? Nope

Prepare to get your “arrrrgh” on this weekend as Sony opens The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" opens this weekend

The first major animated family film since Universal released The Lorax on March 2, Pirates! looks like fun. The PG-rated 3D movie has the divine voice of Hugh Grant, along with Salma Hayek and Jeremy Piven. There’s an albino pirate, a guy with gout and Al Roker as The Pirate Who Likes Sunsets and Kittens.

Boxoffice.com isn’t holding out a lot of hope, though, predicting a $9 million opening weekend.

That seems a little low to us. Even Arthur Christmas, Sony’s most recent project with Aardman Animations, the company behind Pirates!, opened to $12 million.

One thing is for sure, though: As good as Pirates! might be, it’s not going to be the best pirate movie of all time.

What is?

Some Errol Flynn thing? Maybe Captain Blood, which also starred Olivia de Havilland and Basil Rathbone, and got four Oscar nominations? Or Mutiny on the Bounty – the 1953 one with Clark Gable and Charles Laughton one, not the 1980 one with Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson — which won the best picture Oscar in 1954?

Nope.

You’re welcome to argue the point, but we say the best pirate film ever is The Princess Bride. The 1987 movie has everything –fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles.

Any other choice would be inconceivable. But tell us your thoughts. Basil.

– Joshua L. Weinstein