REH film news!

Bran Mak Morn - Official Movie Press Release from Universal Pictures!Universal City, CA – July 14 , 2005 – Working Title Films has teamed with Film 44 for the feature film adaptation of Bran Mak Morn; Peter Berg will direct the film from a screenplay adaptation by John Romano. Universal Pictures, where both production entities are housed, will distribute the film. Working Title optioned the rights to the early twentieth century classic fantasy adventure tales Bran Mak Morn by Robert E. Howard from Wandering Star Pictures. Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan of Working Title Films will produce the film along with Wandering Star’s Paul Berrow, and John Cameron of Film 44. Sarah Aubrey of Film 44 will serve as an executive producer for the project. Bran Mak Morn fuses history with epic fantasy in the story of a mythical King of Ancient Britain, who forges an unholy alliance with the supernatural forces of his homeland to confront the mighty onslaught of the Roman Empire. “Bran Mak Morn is one of our most exciting and ambitious projects to date,” said Fellner. “Robert E. Howard’s writing brilliantly combines epic fantasy with heroic historical drama and we are delighted to partner with John Romano and the highly talented teams at Wandering Star and Film 44 to bring his stories to life.”Added Berg, “I look forward to working with Eric and Tim, producers whose successful track record speaks for itself. It is thrilling to be able to name Bran Mak Morn as one of Film 44’s first projects since joining the Universal family. Personally, I am excited as a filmmaker to bring to life this classic tale by Howard.”In regards to the project, Universal Picture’s President of Production Donna Langley noted, “It is always great news when an adaptation such as this can be undertaken. And it is even better news when those steering this film are production entities that we call part of the Universal Family” Eric, Tim, Pete, John and Sarah, along with their teams are sure to bring the magic and fantasy of Robert E. Howard’s words to life in spectacular fashion.”Universal’s Senior Vice President of Production, Dylan Clark will oversee the project for the studio. Chris Clark, senior vice president of development at Working Title, will oversee for the banner, with Cameron and Aubrey overseeing for Film 44. Berg’s longtime associate Maria Williams will also work with the Film 44 team on the project.”Working Title is currently preparing to release Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley, Dame Judi Dench, Donald Sutherland, and Brenda Blethyn on September 23, 2005 for Focus Features. They are in post production on Nanny McPhee, starring Emma Thompson, Colin Firth and Angela Lansbury for Universal Pictures. Other projects include Hot Stuff, currently in preproduction, starring Tim Robbins and Derek Luke for director Phillip Noyce.Film 44, the newly formed production entity of Peter Berg, John Cameron and Sarah Aubrey, is currently in development on Kingdom with producer Michael Mann, which Berg will also direct. Berg recently directed Universal’s Friday Night Lights, which Cameron and Aubrey produced. Other directorial credits include The Rundown and Very Bad Things. Berg’s agency representative is Endeavor and his lawyer is Barry Hirsch.Wandering Star currently has three Robert E. Howard related feature projects in development, Solomon Kane in co-production with Davis Film Paris, Kull and Bran Mak Morn. Wandering Star is also producing the Modesty Blaise franchise with Miramax Films.