Thompson on Hollywood

MGM and Sony Partner on Bond, Dragon Tattoo and Now, 21 Jump Street

MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment are partnering on several projects, from James Bond 23 (November 9, 2012) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to 21 Jump Street. MGM Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum and Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal, had announced that they would partner on several projects over five years.

By Anne Thompson
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May 18, 2011 2:52 AM
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MGM Pacts with Twentieth Century Fox for Homevideo

It feels like things are on the up-and-up at MGM, as the studio renews its home entertainment deal with Fox. Wednesday, MGM announced its five-year co-financing deal with Sony, which plans to theatrically release worldwide and help fund the next two James Bond films. Peter Jackson has finally started production on MGM/New Line/Warner Bros. co-production the Hobbit in Wellywood, New Zealand, which will be released in two parts by Warner Bros. in 2012 and 2013.

By Anne Thompson
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April 14, 2011 10:56 AM
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MGM Partners with Sony on Releasing James Bond 23 Worldwide

As expected, MGM has closed a worldwide distribution deal with Sony (which released Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace) for Sam Mendes' Bond 23, starring Daniel Craig as 007. Sony will also co-finance the film.

By Anne Thompson
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April 13, 2011 11:15 AM
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Peter Jackson is Back in Middle Earth as The Hobbit Starts Production

Am I crazy, or doesn't writer-director-producer Peter Jackson look happy again? In the years since he completed The Lord of the Rings trilogy (which grossed a total $3 billion worldwide; extended DVD due June 28), he shot the gargantuan budget King Kong (which would have been hugely successful if it had cost less) and the smaller-scale The Lovely Bones, which cost more than the literary delicacy should have. He produced protege Neill Blomkamp's District 9 as well as collaborating closely with director Steven Spielberg on the Tintin trilogy; the first is due this December.

By Anne Thompson
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March 21, 2011 11:45 AM
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MGM Hires Qualia's Schapiro as COO

MGM co-chairs and CEOs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have named Ken Schapiro to the post of chief operating officer.

By Anne Thompson
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February 15, 2011 1:27 AM
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Jonathan Glickman Named MGM Production Chief

MGM co-chairmen and CEOs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have brought over 12-year Spyglass president Jonathan Glickman as new prexy of MGM's Motion Picture Group.

By Anne Thompson
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February 2, 2011 9:51 AM
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James Bond 23 Will Shoot in Late 2011 with November 2012 Release Date

EON producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, finally released from the constraints of MGM's bankruptcy, are free to commit to going forward with James Bond 23, which has been stalled while they waited for MGM to come out of its financial quagmire. New MGM co-chairs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum say the movie will start shooting in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

By Anne Thompson
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January 11, 2011 7:50 AM
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Warner Bros. Takes On International Distribution for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit

Warner Bros. has reached a deal to handle the international theatrical and video distribution on MGM's behalf for Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings trilogy prequel, The Hobbit (in two parts), adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel. MGM will oversee international television licensing for the films and both studios will collaborate on the films' marketing and release.

By Sophia Savage
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January 6, 2011 9:15 AM
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New MGM Chairmen Birnbaum and Barber Will Turn On Green Light by Mid-December. Whither Bond?

Now that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved MGM's reorganization plan, by mid-December, if all goes smoothly, the lean and mean MGM will have emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, MGM's secured lenders will exchange some $5 billion (which includes accrued interest and fees) for most of the equity in MGM, JPMorgan Chase will have raised $500 million for operations funding, and Spyglass partners Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum will take over the studio as co-chairman and chief executive officers of MGM Inc. That means they can start greenlighting movies and TV shows.