For the purpose of international film distribution, MGM and Universal Pictures have split.
MGM has revealed that Warner Bros. will distribute its next films internationally in a joint press release. However, the agreement excludes “Bond 26,” the upcoming James Bond film, as well as “Women Talking,” a historical drama directed by Chinonye Chukwu, which is scheduled to release on October 14. (Dec. 2). As part of a prior distribution agreement between the two businesses, Universal Pictures International is in charge of coordinating the rollout for those movies outside of the United States.
Under their previous agreement, Universal had assisted MGM in guiding pandemic-era releases like Ridley Scott’s star-studded crime drama “House of Gucci” to $100 million abroad, Paul Thomas Anderson’s coming-of-age tale “Licorice Pizza” to $15 million (impressive considering the film only made $17 million in the United States), and “No Time to Die,” the 25th Bond entry, to $613 million internationally. Daniel Craig played the dapper super-spy in the first four 007 films, which were first released by Sony Pictures International before being acquired by Universal. Warner Bros. will be in charge of Bond 27 and subsequent films under the new arrangement, albeit it might take some time. Craig, who hung up his suit in “No Time to Die,” has yet to be succeeded as Bond by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
The agreement was negotiated by former MGM executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy and MGM’s COO Christopher Brearton. De Luca and Abdy were recently appointed as co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Pictures Group. Beginning on November 23, the cannibal thriller “Bones and All” by director Luca Guadagnino and the March 3, 2023 release of “Creed III,” both of which star Michael B. Jordan, will mark the beginning of the collaboration between MGM and Warner Bros.
In accordance with the terms of the agreement, MGM and Warner Bros. Picture Group will work together on publicity, marketing, distribution, and exhibitor relations for MGM’s upcoming slate of theatrical releases outside of North America (including China). The Warners team will be in charge of execution. In accordance with the new deal, all recently released MGM films will be distributed physically throughout the world.
