News
20th Century Fox to Distribute Walking With Dinosaurs 3D
Featured in Variety - Nov. 9, 2010
Twentieth Century Fox has snapped up domestic and a raft of key territory rights for BBC Earth's $65 million family pic "Walking With Dinosaurs 3D," which Stuart Ford's IM Global is repping worldwide.
In what's believed to be one of the biggest deals ever to unfold at AFM-- and the biggest deal IM Global has secured to date for the company-- Fox has acquired rights to release the CGI/live-action hybrid in North America, Blighty, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Latin America and a slew of other territories. BBC Earth, Reliance and Evergreen Films backed the pic, which is based on the wildly popular BBC franchise, including the six-part television series and live arena show that has been touring globally since 2007. Pic is sold-out now worldwide, with other key territory buyers including Constantin in Germany, Alliance in Canada, Aurum in Spain and Dutch Filmmworks in Beleux.
Ford and a string of Fox execs finalized their deal over the weekend here in Santa Monica. Fox prexy of production Emma Watts announced the deal with Ford and BBC Worldwide managing director Marcus Arthur. Neil Nightengale and Pierre De Lespinois are co-directing from a script by John Collee ("Happy Feet"). Film will use live-action scenic footage and CGI creatures in transporting families to prehistoric times when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
Watts said the BBC franchise is "perfect for a big screen event, 3D adaptation. We love it!" Reliance has a major stake in IM Global, which began quietly shopping the big-budget project to U.S. studios a little over two weeks ago. A number of studios were interested, but Fox won out.
"Film is the next big step for this global franchise and we're creating an incredible cinema experience by combining the BBC's expertise in Natural History with Evergreen Films unique 3D technology. I can't wait to astound everyone with 'Walking with Dinosaurs 3D' on the big screen," Marcus said. Ford negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.