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Working Title Films

Working Title Films Limited[1] is a British film studio that produces motion pictures and television programs and is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, a division of NBCUniversal, which is itself a division of Comcast. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. Bevan and Eric Fellner are now the co-chairmen of the company.

Company history

Bevan and Radclyffe were partners in pop music promotional company, Aldabra, and set up Working Title Films in London in 1983 where they were commissioned by newly created UK broadcaster, Channel 4, to make a television film, My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), directed by Stephen Frears. My Beautiful Launderette was a success at the Edinburgh Film Festival and received a theatrical release, where it was successful internationally. Accountant Graham Bradstreet joined as a third partner in 1986.[2]

A World Apart was entered in competition at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and won the Special Grand Prize of the Jury. The Tall Guy (1988) saw the feature film debut of screenwriter Richard Curtis and director Mel Smith.[2]

In 1988, Michael Kuhn of PolyGram started to work with the company and in 1989 PolyGram acquired 49% of the company and they jointly launched Manifesto Film Sales.[3] Manifesto's first third-party pick up for distribution was the Coen brothers' Barton Fink (1991).[4] Bradstreet left the company in 1990 and Radclyffe a year later, with Eric Fellner, a fellow independent film producer, joining the company in 1991.[5][3][2] The same year, Kuhn set up PolyGram Filmed Entertainment which acquired 100% of Working Title in 1992.[3][2] The company produced a variety of films for PolyGram Filmed Entertainment which became a major Hollywood competitor.

Paul Webster set up an office in Los Angeles in 1991 and producer Liza Chasin was appointed as president of production.[6] Webster produced the company's first American films, Rubin & Ed and Drop Dead Fred. Working Title also made Tim Robbins' directorial debut, Bob Roberts (1992).[2]

Gramercy Pictures began distributing the company's films in the United States, starting with Posse (1993). In 1994, the company's Four Weddings and a Funeral, written by Curtis, became the highest-grossing British film of all-time with a gross of $245 million.[3][2] They also made the Coen brothers' The Hudsucker Proxy (1994). In 1996, Robbins' Dead Man Walking was the company's first film to win an Academy Award, with Susan Sarandon winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. The Coen brothers' Fargo (1996) won two Academy Awards the following year. The company had another major success with Bean (1997) directed by Smith and co-written by Curtis, grossing $251 million.[2]

In 1998, PolyGram was sold to the Seagram company and merged with MCA Music Entertainment, to form Universal Music Group. PolyGram Films was folded into Universal Pictures. In 1999, Seagram sold the bulk of its library of PolyGram films released up until 31 March 1996 to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[citation needed] 1999 also saw the company's highest-grossing film to date with Notting Hill, again written by Curtis, with a gross of $364 million.

Although contractually allowed to produce any film with a budget of up to $35 million, on a practical basis, Bevan and Fellner consult with studio executives at Working Title's parent company NBCUniversal.[7] Working Title company renewed its first look deal with Universal Pictures in 2020.[8]

WT2 Productions

In 1999, Bevan and Fellner launched a subsidiary company named Working Title 2 Productions, commonly known as WT2. The company is an independent film production arm run by Natascha Wharton, and has produced films that include Billy Elliot, Shaun of the Dead and The Calcium Kid.[5]

Television division

Working Title has been active in television production since the beginning of the 1990s.[9] In February 2010, Working Title officially launched its television division as a joint venture with parent company NBCUniversal, itself owned by Comcast.[10] Since then, they have produced content for both British and American television.[11][12] Notable productions and co productions developed by Working Title Television (WTTV)[13] include NBC's About a Boy, and Showtime's The Tudors.[9]

WTTV has offices in London and Los Angeles.[14][15]

TV productions

1991 ITV franchise bid

In 1991, Working Title was involved in a bid for the London Weekend ITV licence. Working Title, Mentorn, Palace and PolyGram wanted to take over from London Weekend Television and broadcast to London under the name London Independent Broadcasting. In the event LWT retained its licence; London Independent Broadcasting's proposals were deemed by the Independent Television Commission, which was overseeing the bid process, to fail the quality threshold.[16]

Films

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Upcoming

References

  1. ^ a b "WORKING TITLE FILMS LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. 14 October 1992. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "WT milestones". Variety. 14 December 1998. p. 106.
  3. ^ a b c d Dawtrey, Adam (14 December 1998). "The billion-dollar indie". Variety. p. 99.
  4. ^ Barton Fink at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  5. ^ a b Higgins, Charlotte (16 April 2005). "Interview: Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, co-chairmen Working Title Films". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. ^ Carver, Benedict (14 December 1998). "'Weddings' opened door to H'wd". Variety. p. 106.
  7. ^ "Working Title – Skillset". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Kay, Jeremy (11 December 2020). "Universal, Working Title renew first-look deal through 2025". Screen. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Working Title Television [gb]". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  10. ^ Laughlin, Andrew (17 February 2010). "Working Title launches TV division". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (16 November 2011). "Working Title Television Sells 6 Projects". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  12. ^ Leo Barraclough (23 January 2014). "Working Title Television Produces 'The Secrets' for BBC". Variety.
  13. ^ "About WTTV". workingtitlefilms.com. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. ^ Prudom, Laura (17 October 2014). "BBC America Co-Producing 'London Spy' Miniseries with Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent". Variety. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Liza Chasin". Variety. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  16. ^ Davidson, Andrew, Under the Hammer: The ITV Franchise Battle, William Heinemann Ltd., p. 297.
  17. ^ "The Soloist".
  18. ^ https://cinemastudies.sas.upenn.edu/events/2010/October/RussKrasnoffProducer [dead link]
  19. ^ Stuart Kemp, Matthew Belloni (3 February 2012). "'Bridget Jones 3' Producer Admits Delay, Vows to Shoot Film in 2012". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  20. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (21 August 2019). "Lena Dunham Launches New Production Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  21. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (26 February 2021). "George Clooney & Julia Roberts Re-Team In 'Ticket To Paradise;' Ol Parker Directs For Universal, Working Title". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  22. ^ Roxborough, Scott (20 April 2021). "Real-life Sisters Cast to Star in Netflix/Working Title Drama 'The Swimmers'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  23. ^ Wood, Alex (17 January 2020). "New Matilda film confirmed – expected to start shooting later this year". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  24. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 November 2020). "Lily James, Shazad Latif & Emma Thompson To Star In Working Title Rom-Com 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' From Jemima Khan & Shekhar Kapur; Studiocanal Launches Sales — AFM Hot Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  25. ^ Galuppo, Mia (15 February 2022). "'We Are Lady Parts' Creator Sets Feature Debut 'Polite Society' at Focus, Working Title". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  26. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (14 December 2022). "Melissa McCarthy To Star In Richard Curtis-Scripted Christmas Comedy For Universal, Working Title & Peacock; Sam Boyd To Direct". Deadline. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  27. ^ Grobar, Matt (1 November 2023). "Melissa McCarthy, Paapa Essiedu's Peacock Comedy 'Genie' From 'Love Actually's Richard Curtis Gets Premiere Date, Trailer, First Look Photos". Deadline. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  28. ^ Kroll, Justin (1 April 2022). "Ethan Coen Sets Next Feature With Focus And Working Title". Deadline. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  29. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (31 January 2022). "Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley To Star In Universal/Working Title's 'The Substance'; 'Revenge' Helmer Coralie Fargeat Directs Her Script". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  30. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (8 May 2024). "Mubi Acquires Coralie Fargeat's Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid Body Horror Movie 'The Substance' Ahead Of Cannes Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  31. ^ https://deadline.com/2024/07/steve-mcqueen-blitz-london-film-festival-world-premiere-saoirse-ronan-harris-dickinson-stephen-graham-1235998279/
  32. ^ Kroll, Justin (6 June 2022). "Apple Lands Steve McQueen's Next Feature Film 'Blitz'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  33. ^ Grobar, Matt (9 April 2024). "Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant & Emma Thompson To Return For 'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy'; Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall Also Set". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  34. ^ Kit, Boys (9 April 2024). "Renée Zellweger Set to Return for New 'Bridget Jones' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  35. ^ Grobar, Matt (7 June 2024). "Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine & More To Star In Amazon MGM Comedy Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  36. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (21 March 2023). "As T.J. Newman Is Set To Adapt Debut Novel 'Falling', Her Follow-up 'Drowning: The Rescue Of Flight 1421' Drops In Hollywood". Deadline Hollywood.
  37. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (22 April 2022). "New Line Acquires Rebecca Serle's Novel 'In Five Years' For HBO Max; Aimee Lagos To Adapt". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  38. ^ "Johnny English 4' to film in Malta and UK this summer". Screendaily. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  39. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (10 May 2023). "Frankie Goes To Hollywood Biopic 'Relax' In The Works With 'It's A Sin' Star Callum Scott Howells, Working Title & Independent Entertainment — Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  40. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (19 November 2020). "Angelina Jolie To Direct Movie 'Unreasonable Behaviour' About Revered War Photographer Don McCullin; Working Title & Hardy Son & Baker Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  41. ^ Sun, Rebecca (24 March 2022). "Gemma Chan, Nina Yang Bongiovi Developing Anna May Wong Biopic With Working Title Films (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  42. ^ Collis, Clark (December 4, 2017). "How director Edgar Wright steered Baby Driver to global success". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  43. ^ Hall, Jacob (5 December 2017). "'Baby Driver' Sequel "Being Hammered Out," Edgar Wright Plans to Write the Screenplay". /Film. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  44. ^ Travis, Ben; Nugent, John (21 January 2019). "Edgar Wright's Next Film Is A Psychological Horror, Plus Baby Driver 2 Update – Exclusive". Empire. Retrieved 21 January 2019.

External links