American United Entertainment Headed To Canada

11:40 AM PDT 5/19/2011 by Etan Vlessing

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The Hollywood film financier has agreed to invest $40 million in future film, TV and digital media production in Ontario in return for tax credits and other taxpayer subsidies.

TORONTO -- Film financier and producer American United Entertainment is the latest Hollywood player to embrace tax credits and other taxpayer subsidies in Ontario.

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“We’ve had our eyes opened to the possibilities for American United Entertainment expansions in gaming, special effects and social media” studio CEO Robert Rodriguez said after agreeing to invest $40 million in unspecified future Toronto content production.

Big budget projects currently already shooting in Toronto include Total Recall, co-starring Ethan Hawke and directed by Len Wiseman, and the NBC series Warehouse 13.

The commitment follows a February 2011 trade mission in Los Angeles led by Ontario Technology Corridor Business Development that successfully wooed Rodriguez and his backers, which include ex-Fox exec Bill Mechanic of Pandemonium films and Die Hard producer Arnold Rifkin of Cheyenne Enterprises.

The movie slate at American United Entertainment includes the Donald Petrie romantic comedy Your Perfect Angel.

Ontario, Canada’s largest province, earlier secured outside investment from Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and Capcom Entertainment as it looks to build out its digital production sector beyond traditional film and TV product.