CULVER CITY, Calif., Dec 15, 2009 - Sony Pictures Entertainment is concluding negotiations to option the English language motion picture rights to the Millennium Series, a trio of crime-thriller novels by the late Swedish writer Stieg Larsson, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, Presidents of Columbia Pictures. Scott Rudin was instrumental in securing the rights and is attached to produce along with Ole Sondberg and Soren Staermose of Swedish production company Yellow Bird Films.
Sony Pictures In Final Discussions To Option Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series; Scott Rudin Attached To Produce
Columbia Pictures Hot For "Bad Teacher"
CULVER CITY, Calif., Dec 9, 2009 - Jake Kasdan will direct Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher, a comedy written by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures. The film, which centers on a flagrantly foul-mouthed, bitter, and irreverent middle school teacher, will be produced by Mosaic Media's Jimmy Miller.
Loot Strikes Licensing Agreement With Iron Fist
CULVER CITY, Calif., December 3, 2009 - Loot, a group of developers within Sony Pictures Entertainmnet, has struck a deal with Iron Fist® Clothing to create branded items for the PlayStation® Home environment, it was announced today. The one-year licensing deal enables the Loot team to create and sell Iron Fist merchandise in the virtual world.
"Collaborating with Loot has been a blast," said Mikey Black at Iron Fist. "We are excited to see our designs take on a whole new life in the virtual world."
Bennett Miller In Negotiations To Direct "Moneyball"
CULVER CITY, Calif., December 4, 2009 - Bennett Miller is in negotiations to direct Columbia Pictures' Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's who rewrote the unwritten rulebook of baseball. The screenplay is by Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin based upon the bestselling book by Michael Lewis. Stan Chervin wrote the first draft of the script. The film will be produced by Michael De Luca, Scott Rudin and Rachael Horovitz.
2009 Is Sony Pictures Entertainment's Best Box Office Year Ever Worldwide As Sony Pictures Releasing International Prepares To Pass $2 Billion Overseas
CULVER CITY, Calif., December 3, 2009 - Sony Pictures Releasing International will pass $2 billion at the box office this coming weekend, powering Sony Pictures Entertainment to its best-ever box office year worldwide, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing & Distribution.
2009 marks just the fifth time in motion picture history that any studio will have passed the $2 billion milestone internationally, following Paramount in 2008, Warner Bros. in 2007 and 2004, and 20th Century Fox in 2006.
Sony Pictures Television And Sunjin Entertainment To Produce Korean Content For Local Audiences
CULVER CITY, Calif., December 4, 2009 - Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Sunjin Entertainment in Korea to develop and produce a television series for local broadcasters. The agreement makes SPT the first Hollywood studio to work with a local production company to develop and produce Korean television series.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group Inks International Distribution Pact With Cbs Films
CULVER CITY, Calif., November 17, 2009 - Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has signed a three-year marketing and distribution deal with CBS Films, under which Sony Pictures will handle international theatrical distribution of CBS Films productions as well as service worldwide distribution of the unit's films in the home entertainment marketplace, it was announced today by Peter Schlessel, president, Worldwide Affairs for Sony Pictures, and Jeff Blake, chairman, Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing & Distribution.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Opens "Colorworks" Digital Intermediate Facility
CULVER CITY, CA - November 16, 2009 - Sony Pictures Entertainment has opened a full-service digital intermediate (DI) facility located on its historic lot in Culver City, it was announced today by Chris Cookson, President of Sony Pictures Technologies.
"Sony Pictures is uniquely positioned at the intersection of entertainment and technology," said Cookson. "Colorworks represents an important blending of the highest level of talent and the most powerful tools in our industry."
Marisa Mcgrath Promoted To Senior Vice President, National Theatrical Publicity, For Sony Pictures
CULVER CITY, Calif., November 18, 2009 - Marisa McGrath has been promoted to Senior Vice President of National Theatrical Publicity, it was announced today by Andre Caraco, Executive Vice President of Motion Picture Publicity for Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing & Distribution.
Sony Pictures Releasing International Sets New Studio Record For International Box Office With $1.634 Billion For The Year - And Counting
CULVER CITY, Calif., November 16, 2009 - Yesterday, Sony Pictures Releasing International passed $1.634 billion at the box office, making 2009 the highest grossing year of all time internationally for the studio and breaking the division's previous all-time high which it set in 2006, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, chairman, Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution.
