British film and television production company
Working Title Films Limited [ 1] is a British film and television production company 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
Release date
Title
Notes
22 June 1990
Fools of Fortune
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Channel Four Films
27 July 1990
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and New Line Cinema
13 May 1991
Robin Hood
24 May 1991
Drop Dead Fred
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and New Line Cinema
21 August 1991
Barton Fink
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and 20th Century Fox
18 October 1991
Edward II
13 December 1991
London Kills Me
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Fine Line Features
15 May 1992
Rubin & Ed
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
17 July 1992
Dakota Road
with Channel Four Films, British Screen Productions and Mayfair Entertainment
4 September 1992
Bob Roberts
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Paramount Pictures , Miramax Films and LIVE Entertainment
23 April 1993
Map of the Human Heart
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Miramax Films
14 May 1993
Posse
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
8 October 1993
The Young Americans
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Live Entertainment
4 February 1994
Romeo Is Bleeding
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
9 March 1994
Four Weddings and a Funeral
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Channel Four Films and Gramercy Pictures
11 March 1994
The Hudsucker Proxy
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures
3 May 1995
Panther
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
5 May 1995
French Kiss
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and 20th Century Fox
29 September 1995
Moonlight and Valentino
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
29 December 1995
Dead Man Walking
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
8 March 1996
Fargo
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
22 March 1996
Land and Freedom
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
20 September 1996
Loch Ness
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
7 March 1997
The Eighth Day
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
2 August 1997
Bean
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Tiger Aspect Films and Gramercy Pictures
3 October 1997
The Matchmaker
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
5 December 1997
The Borrowers
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
6 March 1998
The Big Lebowski
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
22 November 1998
Elizabeth
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, StudioCanal , Channel Four Films and Gramercy Pictures
29 January 1999
The Hi-Lo Country
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
28 May 1999
Notting Hill
with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
1 October 1999
Plunkett & Macleane
with StudioCanal, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
2000s
Release date
Title
Notes
31 March 2000
High Fidelity
with Touchstone Pictures
13 October 2000
Billy Elliot
with BBC Films , Tiger Aspect Productions , StudioCanal and Universal Focus
2 December 2000
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
with Touchstone Pictures , Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
8 December 2000
The Man Who Cried
with StudioCanal , Universal Pictures and Adventure Pictures
13 April 2001
Bridget Jones's Diary
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
17 August 2001
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
with Universal Pictures , StudioCanal and Miramax Films
2 November 2001
The Man Who Wasn't There
with USA Films , Gramercy Pictures and Good Machine
1 March 2002
40 Days and 40 Nights
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
22 March 2002
Ali G Indahouse
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
17 May 2002
About a Boy
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and TriBeCa Productions
23 August 2002
The Guru
co-production with StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
18 July 2003
Johnny English
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
22 August 2003
Thirteen
with Fox Searchlight Pictures , Universal Pictures and Antidote Films
28 October 2003
Long Time Dead
with Universal Pictures and Focus Features
14 November 2003
Love Actually
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and DNA Films
26 March 2004
Ned Kelly
with Focus Features and StudioCanal
30 July 2004
Thunderbirds
with StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
17 September 2004
Wimbledon
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
24 September 2004
Shaun of the Dead
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Rogue Pictures
19 November 2004
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
4 February 2005
Rory O'Shea Was Here
with Focus Features and StudioCanal
22 April 2005
The Interpreter
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
23 November 2005
Pride & Prejudice
with Focus Features and StudioCanal
27 January 2006
Nanny McPhee
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
28 April 2006
United 93
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
27 October 2006
Catch a Fire
with Focus Features and StudioCanal
26 January 2007
Smokin' Aces
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
14 February 2007
Hot Fuzz
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Rogue Pictures
24 March 2007
Mr. Bean's Holiday
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Tiger Aspect Films
12 October 2007
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
4 January 2008
Atonement
with Focus Features and StudioCanal
14 February 2008
Definitely, Maybe
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
12 September 2008
Burn After Reading
with Focus Features, Relativity Media and StudioCanal
5 December 2008
Frost/Nixon
with Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and StudioCanal
17 April 2009
State of Play
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
24 April 2009
The Soloist [ 17]
with DreamWorks Pictures , Universal Pictures, Participant Media , StudioCanal and Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment[ 18]
2 October 2009
A Serious Man
with Focus Features, Relativity Media and StudioCanal
13 November 2009
The Boat That Rocked
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
2010s
Release date
Title
Notes
12 March 2010
Green Zone
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
2 April 2010
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
with StudioCanal
18 March 2011
Paul
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
12 August 2011
Senna
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
21 October 2011
Johnny English Reborn
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
9 December 2011
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
with Focus Features and StudioCanal
13 January 2012
Contraband
with Universal Pictures
3 February 2012
Big Miracle
with Universal Pictures and Anonymous Content
16 November 2012
Anna Karenina
with Focus Features
25 December 2012
Les Misérables
with Universal Pictures, Relativity Media and Cameron Mackintosh, Ltd.
8 February 2013
I Give It a Year
with StudioCanal
19 July 2013
The World's End
with Universal Pictures, Focus Features, and Relativity Media
28 August 2013
Closed Circuit
with Focus Features
4 September 2013
About Time
with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
27 September 2013
Rush
with Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Exclusive Media, Cross Creek Pictures and Revolution Films
28 August 2014
The Two Faces of January
with StudioCanal and Magnolia Pictures
9 October 2014
Trash
with StudioCanal, O2 Filmes and PeaPie Films
7 November 2014
The Theory of Everything
with Focus Features
28 August 2015
We Are Your Friends
with Warner Bros. Pictures , StudioCanal and RatPac Entertainment
9 September 2015
Legend
with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Cross Creek Pictures and Anton Capital Entertainment
18 September 2015
Everest
with Universal Pictures, Walden Media and Cross Creek Pictures
14 October 2015
The Program
with StudioCanal
27 November 2015
The Danish Girl
with Pretty Pictures, Revision Pictures, Senator Global Productions, Universal Pictures International and Focus Features
5 February 2016
Hail, Caesar!
with Universal Pictures and Mike Zoss Productions
11 March 2016
The Brothers Grimsby
with Columbia Pictures , Village Roadshow Pictures Big Talk Productions and Four by Two Productions
16 September 2016
Bridget Jones's Baby [ 19]
with StudioCanal , Miramax and Universal Pictures
30 June 2017
Baby Driver
with Big Talk Productions, TriStar Pictures and Media Rights Capital
15 September 2017
Victoria and Abdul
with BBC Films , Focus Features and Universal Pictures
13 October 2017
The Snowman
with Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures and Another Park Film
12 January 2018
Darkest Hour
with Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Perfect World Pictures
16 March 2018
7 Days in Entebbe
with Participant Media and Focus Features
26 October 2018
Johnny English Strikes Again
with StudioCanal, Perfect World Pictures and Universal Pictures
7 December 2018
Mary Queen of Scots
with Perfect World Pictures and Focus Features
25 January 2019
The Kid Who Would Be King
with Big Talk Productions, TSG Entertainment and 20th Century Fox
28 June 2019
Yesterday
with Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures and Decibel Films
20 December 2019
Cats
with Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment , Monumental Pictures and Really Useful Group
2020s
Upcoming
References
^ a b "WORKING TITLE FILMS LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK" . Companies House . 14 October 1992. Retrieved 3 September 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g "WT milestones". Variety . 14 December 1998. p. 106.
^ a b c d Dawtrey, Adam (14 December 1998). "The billion-dollar indie". Variety . p. 99.
^ Barton Fink at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
^ 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 .
^ Carver, Benedict (14 December 1998). " 'Weddings' opened door to H'wd". Variety . p. 106.
^ "Working Title – Skillset" . The Guardian .
^ Kay, Jeremy (11 December 2020). "Universal, Working Title renew first-look deal through 2025" . Screen . Retrieved 13 December 2020 .
^ a b "Working Title Television [gb]" . IMDb . Retrieved 31 July 2018 .
^ Laughlin, Andrew (17 February 2010). "Working Title launches TV division" . Digital Spy . Retrieved 31 July 2018 .
^ Andreeva, Nellie (16 November 2011). "Working Title Television Sells 6 Projects" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 31 July 2018 .
^ Leo Barraclough (23 January 2014). "Working Title Television Produces 'The Secrets' for BBC" . Variety .
^ "About WTTV" . workingtitlefilms.com . Retrieved 31 July 2018 .
^ Prudom, Laura (17 October 2014). "BBC America Co-Producing 'London Spy' Miniseries with Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent" . Variety . Retrieved 31 July 2018 .
^ "Liza Chasin" . Variety . 22 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018 .
^ Davidson, Andrew, Under the Hammer: The ITV Franchise Battle, William Heinemann Ltd., p. 297.
^ "The Soloist" .
^ https://cinemastudies.sas.upenn.edu/events/2010/October/RussKrasnoffProducer [dead link ]
^ 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 .
^ Goldberg, Lesley (21 August 2019). "Lena Dunham Launches New Production Company" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 14 July 2020 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Wood, Alex (17 January 2020). "New Matilda film confirmed – expected to start shooting later this year" . WhatsOnStage . Retrieved 3 August 2020 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Kroll, Justin (1 April 2022). "Ethan Coen Sets Next Feature With Focus And Working Title" . Deadline . Retrieved 2 April 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Kroll, Justin (6 June 2022). "Apple Lands Steve McQueen's Next Feature Film 'Blitz' " . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 26 June 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ Kit, Boys (9 April 2024). "Renée Zellweger Set to Return for New 'Bridget Jones' Movie" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 9 April 2024 .
^ 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 .
^ Goldbart, Max (27 August 2024). " 'Mare Of Easttown' Star Angourie Rice & Spike Fearn Leading UK-Set Romcom 'CC: Emily' From Focus Features, Working Title" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 27 August 2024 .
^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Kroll, Justin (23 August 2023). "Amazon & Netflix In Bidding Battle For 'Crime 101': Don Winslow Novella Has Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Director Bart Layton Attached; Deal Could Hit $100M" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 21 September 2024 .
^ Grobar, Matt (24 January 2024). "Margaret Qualley To Reteam With Ethan Coen On 'Honey Don't!'; Aubrey Plaza & Chris Evans Also Set For Focus Features Comedy" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 18 August 2024 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ "Johnny English 4' to film in Malta and UK this summer" . Screendaily . 9 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024 .
^ Wiseman, Andreas (14 July 2024). "Andrew Scott, Fresh Off Emmy Nomination, Set To Star In Studiocanal & Working Title D-Day Movie 'Pressure' About The Historic Normandy Landings" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 21 September 2024 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Hall, Jacob (5 December 2017). " 'Baby Driver' Sequel "Being Hammered Out," Edgar Wright Plans to Write the Screenplay" . /Film . Retrieved 6 December 2017 .
^ 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 .
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