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    MGM Partners With Annapurna To Distribute Films In U.S.

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1609 Views
    In this image released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions, Daniel Craig appears in a scene from the James Bond film, "Spectre." (Jonathan Olley/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions via AP)

    By Jake Cole, Film Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    The storied movie studio MGM is getting back into distribution, teaming with Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures in a joint venture that could have ramifications for the next James Bond film.

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Annapurna on Tuesday announced a partnership to distribute films in the United States. The move signals growing ambitions for MGM, which was once one of Hollywood's premier brands. After financial struggles, the Beverly Hills, California-based studio, founded in 1924, emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2000 and has since released its films through larger studios.

    "The time has come for MGM to regain control of its own destiny and return to U.S. theatrical distribution," Gary Barber, MGM chief executive and chairman, said in a statement.

    MGM remains the home of James Bond, but neither MGM nor Annapurna said if the next Bond movie, planned for 2019, is a part of their new deal. MGM's pact with Sony Pictures on the franchise expired in 2015. Worldwide distribution rights for the 25th Bond film, MGM said, would be announced "at a later date."

    MGM and Annapurna said they will together release about 15 films a year, including six to eight by MGM. Each company retains creative control over their individual projects. Annapurna, which has recently begun marketing and distributing its own titles, will handle campaigns for all MGM titles.

    "We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Gary and the entire MGM team," said Ellison. "MGM's distinguished legacy and library of films has made them a pillar in the industry and I couldn't be more proud and confident in our team's ability to collaborate on the distribution of their upcoming slate."

    The first movie MGM will release under the agreement will be Eli Roth's "Death Wish," a remake of the 1974 revenge thriller, in March. Also on the docket are a musical of 1983's "Valley Girl," the Rocky saga sequel "Creed 2," and a female-led remake of 1988's "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" titled "Nasty Women."

    Since its founding in 2012, Annapurna has become an Academy Awards regular thanks to films like "American Hustle," ''Zero Dark Thirty" and "Her." Its recent forays into distribution, however, have been less successful. None of its three releases this year — Kathryn Bigelow's "Detroit," Angela Robinson's "Professor Marston & the Wonder Woman" and Mike White's "Brad's Status" — have performed well at the box office.

    Category:News
    Tags:AnnapurnaJames BondMGM



    Is “Glicked” The New “Barbenheimer”? “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” Hit Theater Screens

    Thursday, November 21, 2024

    "Barbenheimer" was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn't stopped people from trying to make "Glicked" — or even "Babyratu" — happen.

    The counterprogramming of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office.

    And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, "Saw Patrol" ).

    This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation "Wicked" opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic "Gladiator II." Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy — it was already halfway there before the name game began: "Wickiator," "Wadiator," "Gladwick" and even the eyebrow raising "Gladicked" have all been suggested.

    "'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more," actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of "Gladiator II" this week. "I think we should all band around 'Glicked.' It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it."

    As with "Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, "Glicked" also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging... Read More

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