20th Century Fox Inks Home Ent Pact With Hopscotch/eOne for Australia/New Zealand

LONDON – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) and Hopscotch/Entertainment One (Hopscotch/eOne) are partnering in a sales and distribution agreement across both the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Kicking off Feb. 1, 2012, TCFHE will distribute Hopscotch/eOne’s fresh releases, TV and catalog product, including Midnight In Paris starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams, and We Need To Talk About Kevin starring Oscar winning actress Tilda Swinton.

“The Hopscotch product schedule reflects an exciting growth phase with a broad range of commercial theatrical releases, big brand TV franchises and quality independent and straight to DVD releases that will complement the Fox product portfolio, and give us a tremendous foundation for business success,” said Steven Leighton, TCFHE svp, northern Europe and Asia Pacific.  

Hopscotch/eOne’s Home Entertainment managing director Jude Troy spoke about the potential for “enormous growth that lies ahead.”

Said Troy: “We are confident the partnership with Fox will strengthen our position in the marketplace and support us in the expansion. We feel the commercial and cultural fit is the right one to take us to the next level.”

In May this year, Hopscotch was acquired by Entertainment One as part of the company’s global expansion strategy.

Hopscotch/eOne recently inked a multi-year output deal with Lakeshore Entertainment, the production banner behind films such as Million Dollar Baby, Runaway Bride and Gamer.

Combined with a newly-inked three-year output agreement with Summit Entertainment means Hopscotch/eOne will rollout up to ten Studio-style films a year theatrically.

Other films in the pipeline through Hopscotch/eOne’s acquisitions in Australia and New Zealand include Parker starring Jason Statham, Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths starring Colin Farrell, and Rush from director Ron Howard.

Hopscotch/eOne’s TV line-up includes BBC dramas such as Life On Mars and Hustle and comedies including Secret Diary Of A Call Girl and The Inbetweeners.

Prior to the deal with Fox, Hopscotch/eOne had a six-year partnership with Roadshow Entertainment.

The transition of the Hopscotch/eOne business from Roadshow Entertainment to Fox will be official by 2012.