If something about Hollywood historical past, you’re most likely conscious of the various, many incarnations of United Artists studios. Based in 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, it has been a distributor and, since 1981, a division of MGM Studios (then named MGM/UA Studios). At the moment, Amazon MGM Studios revealed that United Artists will dwell as soon as extra beneath a brand new cope with producer Scott Stuber and his yet-to-be-named financing firm.
READ MORE: Netflix’s Ted Sarandos says streamer has “No urge for food to make fewer movies”
The “new” United Artists will produce a number of movies a 12 months beneath Stuber’s label for launch each theatrically and for Prime Video. It’s assumed many shall be co-financed or financed by his new entity. Moreover, Amazon MGM Studios says Stuber “shall be concerned in all tasks launched by the brand new UA.” Who makes the ultimate selections on the new United Artists stays to be seen.
In an announcement, Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon MGM Studios famous, “Together with his confirmed observe report of delivering world hits and a watch in the direction of theatrical fare, Scott’s experience and imaginative and prescient align completely with our movie technique. We’re so proud to welcome him to our lot and associate with him on the relaunch of the legendary UA model, as we work to leverage present and new IP into huge, broad movies that resonate with worldwide audiences.”
Stuber added, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike Hopkins, Jen Salke, and Courtenay Valenti over time, and I’m thrilled to associate with them to supply a slate of movies and to relaunch the long-lasting UA model that has such a wealthy historical past of cinematic storytelling. Throughout this dynamic and transformative time for our business, I’m excited to have the chance to work with companions who’re dedicated to telling tales that attain and resonate with world audiences. I stay up for producing a variety of movies with nice filmmakers, utilizing each unique story ideas and MGM and United Artists’ unbelievable library of present IP.”
Earlier this 12 months, Stuber walked away from Netflix the place he was Chairman of Netflix Movie from 2017-2024. He was chargeable for the acquisition, growth, and manufacturing of movies resembling “Crimson Discover,” “Fowl Field,” “Hustle,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Thriller;” “Go away the World Behind”; in addition to Oscar winners resembling Alfred Berger’s “All Quiet on the Western Entrance”; Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio;” Jane Campion’s “The Energy of the Canine”; Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story”; and Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma.” He regularly confronted inner opposition to releasing Netflix motion pictures historically in theaters. That can change with United Artists.
Earlier than working at Netflix, Stuber ran his personal shingle, Bluegrass Movies which shepherded movies resembling “Ted,” “Central Intelligence” and “Protected Home.” He made a reputation for himself as an government at Common Studios chargeable for motion pictures resembling “A Lovely Thoughts,” “Seabiscuit,” “Cinderella Man,” “Jarhead, “8 Mile,” “Meet the Dad and mom” in addition to the “Bourne” and “Quick and the Livid” franchises. He at the moment is producing Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” for Netflix and Scott Cooper’s Bruce Springsteen biopic, “Ship Me From Nowhere,” for twentieth Century Studios and Disney.
Over its lengthy historical past, United Artists has swayed towards extra status fare. As a label and distributor, it has launched over 20 Finest Image nominees and 11 winners together with “Marty” (1956), “Across the World in 80 Days” (1957), “The Condo” (1961), “West Facet Story” (1962), “Tom Jones” (1964), “In The Warmth of the Evening” (1967), “Midnight Cowboy” (1970), “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” (1976), “Rocky” (1977), “Annie Corridor” (1978), and “Rain Man” (1989). Beneath the now legendary Bingham Ray, United Artists launched many acclaimed indie and artwork home movies within the early ’00s together with “Ghost World,” “Nicholas Nickleby,” “Igby Goes Down,” “24 Hour Social gathering Folks,” “Items of April,” and “Resort Rwanda.” In 2006, Tom Cruise and his then-producing associate Paula Wagner famously jumped ship from their longtime residence at Paramount to take over United Artists. Their rocky run included simply two movies: “Lions for Lambs” and “Valkyrie.” The label has been a shell distributor ever since. The final official solo United Artists launch was “Scorching Tub Time Machine 2” in 2015.
In 2017, United Artists – finally retitled “United Artists Releasing” – was reformed as a three way partnership between MGM and Annapurna Photos to market and distribute each entities’ movies. It ceased operations when Amazon acquired MGM Holdings in 2022.
