Universal Pictures Expanding Rogue Pictures Label

Universal Pictures Expanding Rogue Pictures Label

Focus Features Co-President David Linde to Take on Additional Duties as Genre Division Begins Second Year in Business

CANNES, France, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Pictures announced today plans to expand its Rogue Pictures label, which will include an increase in the division's production mandate. The move comes as Universal continues to build upon its internal operations and the changing film viewing landscape. The year-old Rogue label -- devoted to producing and distributing high-quality suspense, action, thriller and urban entertainment features with mainstream appeal and franchise potential -- will ramp up its distribution activities to ultimately reach a level of ten films per year. Focus Features Co-President David Linde will expand his duties and oversee the new strategic mandate of Rogue Pictures. Mr. Linde and his partner at Focus Features, Co-President James Schamus, will continue to jointly run that successful specialty films label. The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Chairman Stacey Snider.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050518/LAW112LOGO)

Plans call for the ramped-up Rogue slate to capitalize on the ever-expanding marketplace for genre films and targeted productions, with more theatrical titles as well as the label's first DVD Premiere releases. The division will expand its production infrastructure and build up the existing Focus Features marketing and distribution groups in order to handle the increased volume.

"It is our belief that the marketplace is ripe for a smart, flexible and aggressive production and distribution entity with the ability to provide original filmed entertainment to consumers in both the theatres and at home," said Ms. Snider. "We are fortunate to be able to grow from within and tap the talents of David Linde to achieve our goal of having another thriving label under the Universal Pictures banner."

Mr. Linde commented, "Over the past three years, we have firmly established the Focus brand -- quality films that win awards and are commercially viable. Focus is now one of the premier specialized film distribution companies worldwide. The company has had tremendous growth and success, and now we plan to create new opportunities that will stimulate Rogue's growth. This initiative will enable us to maximize Rogue's mandate of making filmmaker and actor-driven genre product that achieves mainstream appeal and profitability."

The company's Rogue Pictures label, formed in March 2004, released Unleashed this weekend to a $10.9 million gross, averaging $5,568.00 per theatre and coming in number 3 at the box office in just 1,957 theatres. Unleashed was written and produced by Luc Besson, directed by Louis Leterrier, and stars Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, and Bob Hoskins. In addition, Rogue's Assault on Precinct 13, directed by Jean-Francois Richet and starring Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne, sold through almost 2 million units in its first week of release on DVD via Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE), and is on track to be the biggest DVD performer of the year relative to its box office. All Rogue DVD product will be marketed and distributed by USHE in the U.S.

Rogue's other releases to date include Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead and Don Mancini's Seed of Chucky. Upcoming releases include Jeff Wadlow's Cry Wolf, starring Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, and Jared Padalecki; the untitled supernatural thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar for director Asif Kapadia; and Altered, directed by Eduardo Sanchez, co-writer and co-director of The Blair Witch Project.

As part of the expansion, the company's senior executive group, including Andrew Karpen (Chief Operating Officer), John Lyons (President of Production), Avy Eschenasy (EVP, Business Affairs), Jack Foley (President of Theatrical Distribution), David Brooks (President of Marketing), Adriene Bowles (EVP, Publicity & Marketing), Glen Basner (EVP, International Sales & Distribution), and Jane Evans (Sr. VP of Physical Production), will continue and expand their key roles in the management and presentation of the Rogue titles.

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050518/LAW112LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Rogue Pictures

CONTACT: Adriene Bowles of Focus Features, +1-213-280-6121 (in Cannes);
or Lea Porteneuve of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, +1-818-777-1391

Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

Web site: http://www.focusfeatures.com/

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