The H Collective

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The H Collective
Websitewww.thehcollectivefilms.com

The H Collective is a United States-based film finance, production, marketing and distribution company founded in 2017.[2] The company has Chinese and American backers. THC is headquartered in Los Angeles,[1] and it has offices in Shanghai and Berlin.[3] THC's "first global title" was the 2019 film Brightburn,[4] for which it was developing a sequel in 2023.[5] THC acquired the rights to the XXX film series from Revolution Studios in 2018 to produce a fourth film,[6] but faced a lawsuit from Weying Galaxy in 2020 over alleged misrepresentation and unauthorized transactions concerning those rights.[7]

In 2019, THC formed a partnership with Japanese technology conglomerate Rakuten,

AI technologies into film production through its new subsidiary, H3 Entertainment.[5]

Company history

The H Collective was launched during the 2017 Shanghai International Film Festival with the goal of financing and/or producing four films a year in its first four years.[2] In the following September, the company hired as CEO Nic Crawley, who was the president of international marketing and distribution for Paramount Pictures.[10] The company subsequently hired Jenna Sanz-Agero as EVP Business Affairs and Operations and Ivy Sun as CFO.[11] The company is financially backed by Chinese brothers Kenneth Huang and Kent Huang as well as other Chinese and American backers.[1]

In April 2018, THC partnered with

iQiyi to co-produce three films.[13]

In May 2019, Japanese technology conglomerate Rakuten took a stake in THC's upcoming films, also establishing a joint venture with the studio to distribute films in Japan.[8] By the following August, THC partnered with Rakuten to establish Rakuten H Collective Studio, a joint venture for film production in Japan, and Rakuten Distribution, which will primarily release films produced by THC.[14] By September 2023, THC ended its partnership with Rakuten.[5]

In 2020, THC opened in Berlin an office that would focus on film development and production, with Mark Rau as Europe CEO.[3] In January 2022, THC signed a co-production deal with Inqisam Studios, a Saudi Arabian sub-company of Nowaar Entertainment, to co-invest and produce films and TV shows with a focus on the Arabic-speaking market but aimed at global audiences. In the past year, multiple executives left THC's Los Angeles office, which was being overseen by Kent Huang.[9]

In September 2023, THC launched H3 Entertainment, a new company focused on integrating

AI technologies into film production. H3 Entertainment is based in Dubai and Hong Kong, with seed investors from London, Singapore, and Hong Kong.[5]

Project history

The H Collective's first projects in 2017 were distributing and marketing in the Americas the films Hanson and the Beast, Wolf Warrior 2, and A Better Tomorrow 2018.[15] THC also started in June 2017 backing six projects including The Parts You Lose (ultimately released in 2019) and a fourth installment of the XXX film series (not yet produced).[16] In April 2018, THC acquired the rights to the XXX film series from Revolution Studios.[15] In October 2020, Weying Galaxy filed a lawsuit against THC alleging fraudulent misrepresentation in the XXX deal, claiming it was misled into contributing over $6 million towards acquiring derivative rights. Weying sought punitive damages and control over a joint venture, following discoveries that contradicted initial claims about the acquisition of rights, leading to financial and operational setbacks.[7]

In 2018, THC financed and produced the film Brightburn with Troll Court Entertainment, the company of James Gunn, one of the film's producers.[17] With a release in 2019, Deadline Hollywood called Brightburn THC's "first global title".[4]

The first film that was planned under THC's 2019 partnership with Rakuten is Beast, based on a

Black List script by Aaron W. Sala,[18] which was acquired in March 2018 by THC in a mid-six figure deal.[19] Morena Baccarin was cast in the starring role, and Espen Sandberg was hired to direct the film. Pre-production was planned in New Zealand in late March 2020,[18] but due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic there, the preparation was halted.[20]
There have been no subsequent updates or announcements regarding the film's resumption.

THC said in September 2023 that it is developing a sequel to Brightburn.[5]

Filmography

Films with The H Collective's involvement
Year Film Notes Ref.
2017 Hanson and the Beast North and South American distribution rights [15]
2017 Wolf Warrior 2 North and South American distribution rights [15]
2018 A Better Tomorrow 2018 North and South American distribution rights [15]
2019 The Parts You Lose Produced by The H Collective and Gran Via Productions, distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films [10]
2019 Brightburn Produced by The H Collective, distributed by Screen Gems [21]
2021 Wrong Turn Produced by The H Collective and
Saban Films
 [22]

Projects in development by The H Collective include The Vineyard, Beast, The Remainders, and Shadow Song.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c Brzeski, Patrick (September 6, 2018). "China's iQiyi Takes Stake in Vin Diesel's 'xXx 4'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Busch, Anita (June 19, 2017). "The H Collective, Fueled By China's 'Kenny' Huang, Launches With Projects From Sid Ganis, Mark Johnson, Joe Roth & Jeff Kirschenbaum". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Wiseman, Andrea (November 18, 2020). "'Brightburn' Outfit The H Collective Sets Up German Office With 'Look Who's Back' Co-Producer Mark Rau As CEO Europe". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Tartaglione, Nancy (May 14, 2019). "Japan's Rakuten Invests In H Collective's 'Brightburn', 'xXx 4' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Wiseman, Andreas (September 12, 2023). "The H Collective Launches AI, Web3 & Metaverse Label H3 Entertainment, Still Working On 'Brightburn' Sequel". Deadline Hollywood.
  6. ^ a b Busch, Anita (April 18, 2018). "The H Collective, Sony Pictures In Marketing & Distribution Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Gardner, Eriq (October 12, 2020). "Weying Says 'xXx' Sequel Deal Was a Fraud". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Brzeski, Patrick (May 14, 2019). "Cannes: Japan's Rakuten Takes Stake in The H Collective Action Films 'xXx 4,' 'Brightburn'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (January 17, 2022). "'Brightburn' Producer The H Collective Signs Co-Pro Deal With Saudi Arabia's Inqisam Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Kilday, Gregg (September 14, 2017). "The H Collective Names Nic Crawley CEO". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  11. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (November 29, 2017). "The H Collective Hires Ivy Sun As Chief Financial Officer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  12. ^ Busch, Anita (April 24, 2018). "The H Collective: Sherryl Clark Hired As New Production President, Del Mayberry As CFO, Others Promoted". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (May 18, 2018). "The H Collective Inks Three-Picture Co-Production Pact With China's iQiyi". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  14. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (August 1, 2019). "The H Collective, Rakuten Team For Japan-Based Production & Distribution Ventures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  15. ^ a b c d e Busch, Anita (April 17, 2018). "Vin Diesel, The H Collective Acquire 'xXx' Franchise Rights Before Fourth Installment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  16. ^ McNary, Dave (June 19, 2017). "'xXx' Sequel, Aaron Paul's 'The Parts You Lose' Get Backing From H Collective". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  17. ^ Haring, Bruce (December 8, 2018). "'Brightburn' Trailer: James Gunn-Produced Horror Teaser Released At Brazil's Comic-Con Experience". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Tartaglione, Nancy (February 19, 2020). "Espen Sandberg To Helm Survival Thriller 'Beast' Starring Morena Baccarin For Rakuten H Collective – EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  19. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 20, 2018). "H Collective Lands Aaron W. Sala Horror Spec 'The Beast'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  20. ^ Fonseka, Dileepa (March 13, 2020). "NZ film industry feeling effects of Covid-19 cancellations". Newsroom. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  21. ^ McNary, Dave (October 8, 2018). "Film News Roundup: James Gunn's Horror Movie 'BrightBurn' Moved to 2019". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  22. ^ Miska, Brad (December 16, 2020). "'Wrong Turn' Poster and Images Fight Back Against The Foundation [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  23. ^ "Projects". thehcollectivefilms.com. The H Collective. Retrieved January 11, 2021.

External links

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