Exclusive Media, Cross Creek Pictures team for three-year deal

by Naman Ramachandran

18/05/2012 - UK and US based Exclusive Media and US based Cross Creek Pictures have partnered for a three year 50-50 co-financing, co-producing, co-development deal for a minimum of two feature films per annum with budgets up to $65m (€51.2). The companies announced this in Cannes on Thursday. All films under this deal will be released theatrically in the US through Cross Creek’s slate distribution deal with Universal Pictures. Exclusive Media will retain and sell international rights to the titles.

The first film being produced and financed under this new arrangement is the thriller A Walk Amongst The Tombstone starring UK actor Liam Neeson (Taken) and written and to be directed by US filmmaker Scott Frank (The Lookout). The film is based on the popular Matt Scudder book series written by Lawrence Block. Neeson will play Scudder, a former NYPD cop who is now an unlicensed private eye and a recovering alcoholic haunted by past mistakes, hired to find the kidnapped wife of a drug dealer.

Double Feature Films partners Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher are producing with Danny DeVito and his company, Jersey Films. Principal photography is set to start in February 2013 on location in New York City.

Exclusive Media Co-Chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East said, “We have long enjoyed a fulfilling business partnership with Brian and his team at Cross Creek, creating success with The Ides Of March, The Woman In Black and Rush, among others. We feel very confident to formalise and strengthen our development, financing and production arrangement with Brian and we are thrilled to start this new chapter with such a commercial project.”