U.K. Management and Production Stable Launches With Clients Paul Bettany, Rhys Ifans

LONDON – U.K.-based movie and TV management and production company 42 was launched Tuesday by partners Rory Aitken, Ben Pugh, Josh Varney and Kate Buckley.

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The start-up banner will represent a roster of actors, writers and directors and plans to develop and produce film and television.

Its actor roster includes Michael Caine, John Hurt, Rhys Ifans, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Christopher Lee, Nicholas Hoult, Ben Drew, Clemence Poesy, Emily Mortimer, Tom Hollander, Jonny Lee Miller and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Writers and directors repped by 42 include William Monahan, Peter Cattaneo, Daniel Wolfe, Eran Creevy, Tom Harper, Rowan Athale, Terry George, Nima Nourizadeh, Noel Clarke, Daniel Barber, Baran Bo Odar and Mark Tonderai.

Film projects include Welcome to the Punch starring James McAvoy which releases in the U.K. and US in March 2013 and Autobahn, scheduled to shoot in 2013.

Mady Niel also joins 42 as a literary manager.

42 founders Aitken and Pugh are London-based producers who set up production banner Between The Eyes in 2005.

Initially producing commercials and music videos for a roster of ten directors, with clients including Coldplay, rapper Jay Z, companies Nike, Sony and Cadburys, the duo went on to produce the BAFTA-nominated Shifty directed by Eran Creevy, who also directed the pair's film, Welcome to the Punch, executive produced by Ridley Scott.

Between The Eyes will remain as a production label for certain titles, under the 42 banner, the partners said.

Varney was a Literary agent at Independent Talent Group for nine years garnering a strong reputation for structuring independent finance for his clients.

Buckley, daughter of the BAFTA winning casting director Mary Selway, is one of the U.K.'s leading talent agents, and worked at Independent Talent Group for 12 years.

Both Varney and Buckley will continue to share clients with Independent Talent Group.