Lights, camera, action for Packer deal
According to a Warners press release, the deal covers co-financing on upcoming releases Gravity - starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, and opening in Australia this week - and Grudge Match, a comedy featuring Robert DeNiro and Sylvester Stallone. It is slated to open in Australia on January 30.
Warners did not put a value on the deal, but Hollywood trade papers report it as being worth about $450 million in financing. The deal gives RatPac a stake in "films from all genres and all budgets, including studio tentpole releases based on iconic franchises".
Warner Bros owns the DC Comics brands, which includes Batman, Superman, the Justice League and Wonder Woman.
Warners also owns the Harry Potter franchise. Author J.K. Rowling recently announced that she was writing a screenplay for a film based on her 2001 book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a textbook that features in the fictional Potter universe. Warner Bros will produce the film.
Mr Packer's personal wealth was put at $6 billion by BRW in May, and he has long counted Hollywood royalty, such as actors Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, among his closest friends.
Ratner, 44, is the producer of the Snow White reboot Mirror Mirror, the indie flick Catfish and the comedy hit Horrible Bosses. He is also the director of the three Rush Hour films and X-Men: The Last Stand, based on the Marvel comics.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Warner Bros Pictures announced a multi-year deal to work with RatPac‑Dune Entertainment — the company James Packer formed with Brett Ratner and Steven Mnuchin — to co‑finance and produce films. The agreement covers as many as 75 movies across multiple years.
The deal allows RatPac and Warner Bros to make up to 75 movies over the life of the multi‑year arrangement, across a range of genres and budgets.
Warner Bros said the deal covers co‑financing on upcoming releases including Gravity, starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, and Grudge Match, a comedy featuring Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone (reported to open in Australia on January 30).
Warner Bros did not disclose a value for the deal, but Hollywood trade papers reported it to be worth about US$450 million in financing.
RatPac‑Dune Entertainment was founded by casino boss James Packer last December with Hollywood producer‑director Brett Ratner and Steven Mnuchin of private investment firm Dune Capital Management. Ratner is known as a producer and director on several mainstream films.
The deal gives RatPac a stake in films from all genres and budgets, which could include Warner Bros' major franchises such as DC Comics properties (Batman, Superman, Justice League, Wonder Woman) and the Harry Potter universe — Warner Bros will produce J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts screenplay.
James Packer, described in the article as a casino boss, founded RatPac‑Dune Entertainment and was estimated by BRW in May to have a personal wealth of about $6 billion. He also has longstanding ties to Hollywood figures.
Brett Ratner is credited as the producer of films like Mirror Mirror (a Snow White reboot), the indie Catfish, and the comedy Horrible Bosses. He also directed the three Rush Hour films and X‑Men: The Last Stand.
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