Charles D. King’s MACRO Inks First-Look and Co-Finance Deal with Warner Bros. Pictures Group
(February 20, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA) – Charles D. King’s media company, MACRO, has signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Pictures Group (WBP). It was announced today by Charles D. King, Founder and CEO, MACRO and Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group and Courtenay Valenti, President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Under the terms of this deal, Warner Bros. Pictures will have a first look on all projects MACRO intends to develop or package as feature films. WBP will also have the option to co-finance these projects alongside MACRO, and will handle global distribution of these releases.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Warner Bros. Pictures and their visionary leadership team whose bold choices have led to some of our industry’s most successful and impactful films,” said King. “This expertise, combined with WarnerMedia and AT&T’s global assets and distribution, offers MACRO an unparalleled opportunity to expand our reach and further our mission of identifying and producing authentic stories by and about people of color.”
“In just a short period of time, Charles and MACRO have helped redefine representation in feature films,” said Emmerich and Valenti. “They have an incredible track record, and we’re looking forward to working with them to produce films that highlight the authenticity and importance of diversity.”
MACRO develops, produces and finances film, television and digital content driven by people of color. Since its 2015 launch, the company’s films have received nine Oscar nominations. MACRO produced and co-financed the critically-acclaimed “Mudbound,” the highest sale at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, which went on to be nominated in four categories (Best Supporting Actress and history-making nominations in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for director/writer Dee Rees and Best Cinematography category for Rachel Morrison). The company also executive-produced and co-financed “Fences.” It received four nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for director/star Denzel Washington and one win for Best Supporting Actress for Viola Davis. Its latest film, Boots Riley’s “Sorry to Bother You,” starring Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson, was also produced and co-financed by the company. Most recently, the company signed on as a co-financier and Charles D. King as an executive producer for “Just Mercy,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release, starring Michael B. Jordan with Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson.
MACRO’s upcoming projects include “Tigertail,” which is currently in post-production at Netflix. The Alan Yang-helmed drama, produced by MACRO, touches on themes of regret, longing, passion and repression while spanning continents and generations, from 1950's Taiwan to present-day New York City. The company also has numerous television projects in various stages of production, including “Raising Dion” at Netflix.
The deal was negotiated for MACRO by Hansen Jacobson Teller & Hoberman, as well as Latham & Watkins.
About MACRO
Launched in January 2015 by former William Morris Endeavor (WME) partner Charles D. King, MACRO is a multi-platform media company focused on the global new majority and develops, produces and finances theatrical features, premium television and cinematic digital content that reflects more accurate portrayals of people of color. Visit www.staymacro.com for more information on the company.
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