The Expendables and London Has Fallen producer has sold a majority stake to the owner of Aston Villa Football Club.
Chinese conglomerate Recon Holding has signed an agreement to acquire a 51% stake in indie production powerhouse Millennium Films for $100 million (RMB688m).
Listed in Shenzhen, the company is owned by Recon Group, headed by Tony Jiantong Xia, which also owns Aston Villa Football Club. Xia will serve as chairman of Millennium Films, with the company’s founders Avi Lerner and Trevor Short as CEO and COO respectively.
The deal, which includes Millennium’s nearly 300-title film library, also gives Recon Holding the option to acquire the remaining 49% shareholding in the company in the future.
Millennium is known for franchise properties such as The Expendables, The Mechanic, Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen, which have all been decent hits in China.
The second and third installments in The Expendables series were co-financed by China’s Le Vision...
Chinese conglomerate Recon Holding has signed an agreement to acquire a 51% stake in indie production powerhouse Millennium Films for $100 million (RMB688m).
Listed in Shenzhen, the company is owned by Recon Group, headed by Tony Jiantong Xia, which also owns Aston Villa Football Club. Xia will serve as chairman of Millennium Films, with the company’s founders Avi Lerner and Trevor Short as CEO and COO respectively.
The deal, which includes Millennium’s nearly 300-title film library, also gives Recon Holding the option to acquire the remaining 49% shareholding in the company in the future.
Millennium is known for franchise properties such as The Expendables, The Mechanic, Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen, which have all been decent hits in China.
The second and third installments in The Expendables series were co-financed by China’s Le Vision...
- 2/23/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Ryan Kavanaugh and Tucker Tooley at Relativity Media have been through different manifestations through the years that involved grand enterprises like slate financing half of the movies in Hollywood at one time, and plotting an Ipo in the near future. The story of this festival has been the number of upstart companies that bought films as they re-brand themselves into indie distribution players. They include the soon-to-be-renamed Millennium buying Madame Bovary, EuropaCorp buying Big Game for its new domestic distribution pipeline Red, and Rlj/Image acquiring the Thomas McCarthy-directed Adam Sandler comedy The Cobbler.
Relativity has also been honing its own identity, and it made the first two deals of the festival, buying the completed picture The Woman in Black 2, and Kidnap, a thriller that Halle Berry will star in. Relativity chased the Chris Rock film Top Five and premiered two films here, Beyond The Lights and Hector And The Search For Happiness.
Relativity has also been honing its own identity, and it made the first two deals of the festival, buying the completed picture The Woman in Black 2, and Kidnap, a thriller that Halle Berry will star in. Relativity chased the Chris Rock film Top Five and premiered two films here, Beyond The Lights and Hector And The Search For Happiness.
- 9/10/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
Coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Bond series, anticipation couldn’t be any higher for Daniel Craig’s third turn as the iconic secret agent in the upcoming Skyfall.
Directed by Sam Mendes with a cast that includes Judi Dench, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes, Skyfall features a smorgasbord of respected Oscar talent. It even has the legendary Coen Brothers regular Roger Deakins on cinematography duties, making it clear that this isn’t just any run of the mill Bond film. But while excitement is high for Bond’s 23rd outing on the big screen, the secret agent also has to compete with the London Olympics and the Queens Golden Jubilee for the world’s attention.
As well as the release of Skyfall and a 50th anniversary Blu-ray box set of all 22 Bond films, a celebratory video game titled 007 Legends has also been recently announced. Best described as a...
Directed by Sam Mendes with a cast that includes Judi Dench, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes, Skyfall features a smorgasbord of respected Oscar talent. It even has the legendary Coen Brothers regular Roger Deakins on cinematography duties, making it clear that this isn’t just any run of the mill Bond film. But while excitement is high for Bond’s 23rd outing on the big screen, the secret agent also has to compete with the London Olympics and the Queens Golden Jubilee for the world’s attention.
As well as the release of Skyfall and a 50th anniversary Blu-ray box set of all 22 Bond films, a celebratory video game titled 007 Legends has also been recently announced. Best described as a...
- 4/24/2012
- by Stephen Leigh
- Obsessed with Film
At any given moment in the nebulous world of big studio film production there are as many phantoms floating around as there are solid movies made. Regardless of whether these loosely connected collections of ideas, scripts, and attached names ever find a home and a green light, these potential projects permeate production offices, studio meetings, agents’ agendas as well as blogs and news sites just like this.
Of these phantoms, those that draw the most passionate feedback, whether they spark hope for the possibility of seeing a childhood memory brought to life on the big screen or threaten to rip apart the internet under the weight of fans’ collective rage, are those that are adapted from works of science fiction and fantasy. These adaptations continue to be the go to projects of many producers due to the burgeoning success of the genres in film and television (thanks to the floodgate...
Of these phantoms, those that draw the most passionate feedback, whether they spark hope for the possibility of seeing a childhood memory brought to life on the big screen or threaten to rip apart the internet under the weight of fans’ collective rage, are those that are adapted from works of science fiction and fantasy. These adaptations continue to be the go to projects of many producers due to the burgeoning success of the genres in film and television (thanks to the floodgate...
- 3/8/2012
- by Joseph Kratzer
- Obsessed with Film
Helen McCrory and Ola Rapace are the latest actors to join Skyfall’s star-studded cast.
Known for her role as Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter, McCrory has joined the cast after finishing up on Martin Scorsese’s Hugo. While Rapace makes his break into the mainstream from Swedish television.
Rapace will follow in ex-wife Noomi’s footsteps, whose leading role in the Millennium series secured her a spot working with Robert Downey Jr. on Sherlock Holmes 2.
The actors will join Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Bérénice Marlohe, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw in the 23rd Bond movie, directed by Sam Mendes.
The official film synopsis from the studios reads as follows: “In Skyfall, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Known for her role as Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter, McCrory has joined the cast after finishing up on Martin Scorsese’s Hugo. While Rapace makes his break into the mainstream from Swedish television.
Rapace will follow in ex-wife Noomi’s footsteps, whose leading role in the Millennium series secured her a spot working with Robert Downey Jr. on Sherlock Holmes 2.
The actors will join Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Bérénice Marlohe, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw in the 23rd Bond movie, directed by Sam Mendes.
The official film synopsis from the studios reads as follows: “In Skyfall, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
- 11/8/2011
- by jennifer.trevorrow@lovefilm.com (Jennifer Trevorrow)
- LOVEFiLM
Thanks mostly to another significant expansion, Blue Valentine barely held off newcomer From Prada to Nada to lead the arthouse field for a fourth straight weekend. The weekend's other significant new limited release was Biutiful, which leveraged it's multiple Oscar nominations to decent initial results. After scoring an Oscar nomination for Michelle Williams' lead performance, Blue Valentine expanded to 415 locations and was up 35 percent to $1.19 million. Its per-theater average of $2,858 was its lowest yet, though, and it appears to have reached market saturation. Since opening at the end of December, the romantic drama has earned $6.06 million. From Prada to Nada pulled in $1.12 million at 256 locations in 21 markets to debut just behind Blue Valentine. The movie registered an underwhelming $4,358 per-theater average, and no expansion is currently planned. Distributor Lionsgate's exit polling indicated that 71 percent of the audience was Latino and 70 percent was female.After getting shut out from the Oscar nominations,...
- 1/31/2011
- by Ray Subers
- Box Office Mojo
Tweet
This past week, I found a few bits of news about Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum’s current and upcoming film projects ‘Earth Made of Glass‘, ‘Dear John‘, and ‘Son of No One‘. Enjoy!!!
Earth Made Of Glass Screening
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum executive produced their first movie via their production company 33&Out this past Spring.
That film is a political documentary called ‘Earth Made of Glass‘, and it follows the moving stories of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and survivor Jean-Pierre Sagahutu as they try to help heal their genocide ravished country.
The film recently screened at Dartmouth, and had an Oscar-qualifying run in La and New York, and now, fans in San Fransisco will have an opportunity to watch the documentary too!
‘Earth Made of Glass‘ will be showing at the Landmark Embarcadero Theater on September 30th . Director Deborah Scranton will also have a Q...
This past week, I found a few bits of news about Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum’s current and upcoming film projects ‘Earth Made of Glass‘, ‘Dear John‘, and ‘Son of No One‘. Enjoy!!!
Earth Made Of Glass Screening
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum executive produced their first movie via their production company 33&Out this past Spring.
That film is a political documentary called ‘Earth Made of Glass‘, and it follows the moving stories of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and survivor Jean-Pierre Sagahutu as they try to help heal their genocide ravished country.
The film recently screened at Dartmouth, and had an Oscar-qualifying run in La and New York, and now, fans in San Fransisco will have an opportunity to watch the documentary too!
‘Earth Made of Glass‘ will be showing at the Landmark Embarcadero Theater on September 30th . Director Deborah Scranton will also have a Q...
- 9/10/2010
- by Channing Tatum Unwrapped
- Channing Tatum Unwrapped
HollywoodNews.com: This weekend is being heralded as a battle of the sexes at the multiplex as testosterone actioner “The Expendables” takes on Julia Roberts’ headliner “Eat Pray Love.”
There’s also another wide release in the mix vying for the male teen demo, the Michael Cera fantasy romantic comedy “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
A throwback to the ‘80s action genre, “Expendables,” directed, written and starring Sylvester Stallone, rounds up the big screen’s favorite gunslingers – Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger – in a tale about mercenaries infiltrating a South American country in an effort to off its ruthless dictator. “Expendables” was financed by Millennium/NuImage for $82 million and is expected to come in at number one this weekend with $35 million.
Currently, “Expendables” has a 42% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes; however, critics always have a hard time taking action films seriously.
There’s also another wide release in the mix vying for the male teen demo, the Michael Cera fantasy romantic comedy “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
A throwback to the ‘80s action genre, “Expendables,” directed, written and starring Sylvester Stallone, rounds up the big screen’s favorite gunslingers – Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger – in a tale about mercenaries infiltrating a South American country in an effort to off its ruthless dictator. “Expendables” was financed by Millennium/NuImage for $82 million and is expected to come in at number one this weekend with $35 million.
Currently, “Expendables” has a 42% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes; however, critics always have a hard time taking action films seriously.
- 8/13/2010
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
Philadelphia - November 29: David Akers #2 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates kicking the winning field goal against the Washington Redskins with teammate Jason Avant #81 during their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 29, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Sydney, Australia - November 30: Gary Rohan, a new recruit of the Swans, poses during a Sydney Swans Training Session at Lakeside Oval on November 30, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Anaheim, CA - November 29: Matthew Lombardi #15 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates on the ice during warmups prior to the game against the Anaheim Ducks during the game on November 29, 2009 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/Nhli via Getty Images)
Anaheim, CA - November 29: Tanner Smith #5 of Clemson reacts after a basket by teammate Trevor Booker #35 (not in photo) in the second half against Butler during the 76 Classic at...
Sydney, Australia - November 30: Gary Rohan, a new recruit of the Swans, poses during a Sydney Swans Training Session at Lakeside Oval on November 30, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Anaheim, CA - November 29: Matthew Lombardi #15 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates on the ice during warmups prior to the game against the Anaheim Ducks during the game on November 29, 2009 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/Nhli via Getty Images)
Anaheim, CA - November 29: Tanner Smith #5 of Clemson reacts after a basket by teammate Trevor Booker #35 (not in photo) in the second half against Butler during the 76 Classic at...
- 12/2/2009
- by dennis
- The Backlot
The Coen brothers' dark comedy "Burn After Reading" from Focus Features and Working Title lit up the domestic boxoffice during the weekend, as its estimated $19.4 million debut showed pre-release expectations to be seriously undercooked.
"Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" from Lionsgate bowed with $18 million in second place in a competitive weekend that seemed to rouse the previously somnolent fall marketplace. Overture's cop thriller "Righteous Kill," featuring the rare pairing of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, had been a favorite to top the frame but still opened righteously enough with $16.5 million.
Even Picturehouse's "The Women" -- a critically dismissed remake of the 1939 ensemble comedy and the specialty distributor's final film before shutting down -- bowed with a better-than-expected $10.1 million in fourth place.
Less positively, a second weekend for last weekend's No. 1 film, "Bangkok Dangerous" from Lionsgate, saw the Nicolas Cage starrer drop a big 69% to $2.4 million in eighth place...
"Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" from Lionsgate bowed with $18 million in second place in a competitive weekend that seemed to rouse the previously somnolent fall marketplace. Overture's cop thriller "Righteous Kill," featuring the rare pairing of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, had been a favorite to top the frame but still opened righteously enough with $16.5 million.
Even Picturehouse's "The Women" -- a critically dismissed remake of the 1939 ensemble comedy and the specialty distributor's final film before shutting down -- bowed with a better-than-expected $10.1 million in fourth place.
Less positively, a second weekend for last weekend's No. 1 film, "Bangkok Dangerous" from Lionsgate, saw the Nicolas Cage starrer drop a big 69% to $2.4 million in eighth place...
- 9/14/2008
- by By Carl DiOrio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.