Nathanson 'going home' with Col deal
Nathanson, Col deal
Aug 9, 2005
Michael Nathanson is returning to familiar terrain. The former president of worldwide production at Columbia Pictures has signed a two-year producing deal with Columbia, the company said Monday.
"For me, it's like going home," said Nathanson, who spent nearly 10 years at the studio from 1987-94 and during an earlier stint. "Columbia Pictures holds a special place for me."
Nathanson -- most recently president and chief operating officer at MGM Pictures, a position he held since 1997 -- has several projects in development, including "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "Counter Terrorist" for MGM/Columbia. "Scoundrels," a new interpretation of the original Steve Martin/Michael Caine starrer that he is producing with Robert Simonds, is slated for next year.
"It's great to have Michael back in the Columbia family," Columbia presidents of production Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach said. "He has had a very successful run as both an executive and a producer, and we look forward to working with Michael and his team."
After a Sony-led consortium bought MGM in April, Nathanson began talks about an overall production deal at Columbia (HR 5/3).
Nathanson, who has produced such films as "L.A. Confidential," "A Time to Kill" and "Dangerous Beauty," is in postproduction on "Yours, Mine and Ours" for MGM/Columbia/Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon Movies, scheduled for a November rollout. He said he is eager to produce movies during what he insists is the best filmmaking climate since the early 1970s.
"I think right now is the greatest opportunity for a producer to be making movies in the last 25 or so years," he said. "I think the audience is being very specific about what it likes and doesn't like, what it wants and doesn't want. I see that it is a great time to make movies that are different and compelling."
As president and chief operating officer of MGM Pictures, Nathanson oversaw all facets of development, acquisition, business affairs and production of films produced and released at MGM Pictures. Two upcoming films produced during Nathanson's MGM tenure -- "The Pink Panther," starring Martin, and "Into the Blue," starring Paul Walker and Jessica Alba -- will be released by Columbia.
Before taking the reins at MGM, Nathanson spent three years at New Regency Prods. as chairman and CEO. He came to New Regency from Columbia, where he rose from executive vp production to president of worldwide production.
"For me, it's like going home," said Nathanson, who spent nearly 10 years at the studio from 1987-94 and during an earlier stint. "Columbia Pictures holds a special place for me."
Nathanson -- most recently president and chief operating officer at MGM Pictures, a position he held since 1997 -- has several projects in development, including "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "Counter Terrorist" for MGM/Columbia. "Scoundrels," a new interpretation of the original Steve Martin/Michael Caine starrer that he is producing with Robert Simonds, is slated for next year.
"It's great to have Michael back in the Columbia family," Columbia presidents of production Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach said. "He has had a very successful run as both an executive and a producer, and we look forward to working with Michael and his team."
After a Sony-led consortium bought MGM in April, Nathanson began talks about an overall production deal at Columbia (HR 5/3).
Nathanson, who has produced such films as "L.A. Confidential," "A Time to Kill" and "Dangerous Beauty," is in postproduction on "Yours, Mine and Ours" for MGM/Columbia/Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon Movies, scheduled for a November rollout. He said he is eager to produce movies during what he insists is the best filmmaking climate since the early 1970s.
"I think right now is the greatest opportunity for a producer to be making movies in the last 25 or so years," he said. "I think the audience is being very specific about what it likes and doesn't like, what it wants and doesn't want. I see that it is a great time to make movies that are different and compelling."
As president and chief operating officer of MGM Pictures, Nathanson oversaw all facets of development, acquisition, business affairs and production of films produced and released at MGM Pictures. Two upcoming films produced during Nathanson's MGM tenure -- "The Pink Panther," starring Martin, and "Into the Blue," starring Paul Walker and Jessica Alba -- will be released by Columbia.
Before taking the reins at MGM, Nathanson spent three years at New Regency Prods. as chairman and CEO. He came to New Regency from Columbia, where he rose from executive vp production to president of worldwide production.
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