The Halcyon Co. announced its has acquired all the TERMINATOR franchise rights. These rights include the right to produce any future TERMINATOR films, as well as all future merchandising and licensing rights, certain future revenues derived from TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, as well as certain rights in the television project THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES and the sole right to produce all future TERMINATOR projects in any new or existing media.
The Halcyon Co. is a recently formed, privately financed, film development, production and financing company, headed by co-ceos Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek. "The TERMINATOR franchise represents by far the most popular and successful franchise not owned by a major studio," said Kubicek. "While we have several other projects in the works, we see this global franchise as a cornerstone of Halcyon's future business plans."
TERMINATOR 4 will be based on a script by John Brancato and Michael Ferris and is envisioned to be the first film in a new TERMINATOR trilogy. Halcyon plans to immediately begin pre-production on the new film. While as yet no distribution agreement has been set, Halcyon anticipates that T4 will be ready for release in the first half of 2009, if not earlier.
Moritz Borman, the exec producer of TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES as well as the then-ceo of Intermedia Films (the co-production financial partner for T3), is slated to produce the new TERMINATOR 4 film as well as being an integral member of the branding and licensing team. Kubicek and Anderson will co-produce.
Borman stated, "With T3, we included many incidental details and plot points that, along with the main narrative, set the stage for an entirely new set of inter-related stories covering the future adventures of John Connor and the Terminators. This new TERMINATOR trilogy will build upon the already huge worldwide TERMINATOR fan base, which was both revitalized and expanded with the global success of T3."
Anderson said, "We also plan to maximize the potential of the TERMINATOR franchise by entering into strategic relationships with world class merchandising and licensing partners. By quickly pursuing and finalizing these new opportunities, we are confident that all of these ventures can be completed in time to fully maximize their value by coinciding with the first of the new TERMINATOR's release."
Anderson continued, "In addition to Moritz Borman, Peter D. Graves, who will be an exec producer on the film, was an integral part of the acquisition team. He will also continue to provide executive consulting services to The Halcyon Co. as well as spearhead all aspects of the TERMINATOR marketing program. Alan Schwartz, Randy Paul and Vincent Chieffo of Greenberg Traurig represented Halcyon in the transaction and were critical to its successful completion. Alan Schwartz and the Greenberg Traurig firm will continue to provide ongoing legal counsel to The Halcyon Co."
The most recent film of the multi-billion dollar franchise, TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, was released domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures and internationally (excluding Japan and Korea) by Sony Pictures. This film generated more than $450 million in worldwide box office, breaking numerous box office records around the world.
Anderson and Kubicek plan to produce a portion of Halcyon's future output with the balance of the company's pipeline, expected to be produced in conjunction with other established producers and production entities in the industry.
Kubicek and Anderson both come from financial and creative backgrounds. Prior to co-founding Halcyon, Anderson was the founder and creative director of In the Mix, a boutique marketing and advertising agency, which was sold in 2000. Kubicek began his career in finance as a member of The American Stock Exchange and produced The Halcyon Co.'s first feature film COOK-OFF!, which recently won an HBO Aspen Comedy Festival award.
Borman has produced more than 20 films, most recently including Oliver Stone's WORLD TRADE CENTER and ALEXANDER. Until 2005 he was chairman/ceo of Intermedia Films, which he took public in 2000.
Graves is one of the top industry marketing consultants. Formerly president of marketing for PolyGram Films, Graves has been directly responsible for, or consulted on, the marketing and release of more than 200 titles including TERMINATOR 3, THE PERFECT STORM, BRAVEHEART, FARGO, THE SCORE, ELIZABETH, THE GAME, DEAD MAN WALKING, THE USUAL SUSPECTS and FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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