Working Title Films

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(Redirected from
Working Title Television
)
"Working Title" redirects here. For the concept of a temporary title, see Working title. For the band, see The Working Title.

Working Title Films Limited
Formerly
  • Visionensure Limited (Oct–Dec 1992)
  • Working Title Limited (1992–1995)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFilm production
Founded1983; 41 years ago (1983)
Founders
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
Key people
Parent
Universal Pictures
Divisions
  • WT2 Productions
  • Working Title Television
Websiteworkingtitlefilms.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

Working Title Films Limited

television programs and is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, a division of NBCUniversal, which is itself a division of Comcast. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. Bevan and Eric Fellner
are now the co-chairmen of the company.

Company history

Bevan and Radclyffe were partners in pop music promotional company, Aldabra, and set up Working Title Films in

Edinburgh Film Festival and received a theatrical release, where it was successful internationally. Accountant Graham Bradstreet joined as a third partner in 1986.[2]

A World Apart was entered in competition at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and won the Special Grand Prize of the Jury. The Tall Guy (1988) saw the feature film debut of screenwriter Richard Curtis and director Mel Smith.[2]

In 1988, Michael Kuhn of PolyGram started to work with the company and in 1989 PolyGram acquired 49% of the company and they jointly launched Manifesto Film Sales.[3] Manifesto's first third-party pick up for distribution was the Coen brothers' Barton Fink (1991).[4] Bradstreet left the company in 1990 and Radclyffe a year later, with Eric Fellner, a fellow independent film producer, joining the company in 1991.[5][3][2] The same year, Kuhn set up PolyGram Filmed Entertainment which acquired 100% of Working Title in 1992.[3][2] The company produced a variety of films for PolyGram Filmed Entertainment which became a major Hollywood competitor.

Paul Webster set up an office in Los Angeles in 1991 and producer Liza Chasin was appointed as president of production.[6] Webster produced the company's first American films, Rubin & Ed and Drop Dead Fred. Working Title also made Tim Robbins' directorial debut, Bob Roberts (1992).[2]

Academy Award, with Susan Sarandon winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. The Coen brothers' Fargo (1996) won two Academy Awards the following year. The company had another major success with Bean (1997) directed by Smith and co-written by Curtis, grossing $251 million.[2]

In 1998, PolyGram was sold to the Seagram company and merged with MCA Music Entertainment, to form Universal Music Group. PolyGram Films was folded into Universal Pictures. In 1999, Seagram sold the bulk of its library of PolyGram films released up until 31 March 1996 to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[citation needed] 1999 also saw the company's highest-grossing film to date with Notting Hill, again written by Curtis, with a gross of $364 million.

Although contractually allowed to produce any film with a budget of up to $35 million, on a practical basis, Bevan and Fellner consult with studio executives at Working Title's parent company NBCUniversal.[7] Working Title company renewed its first look deal with Universal Pictures in 2020.[8]

WT2 Productions

In 1999, Bevan and Fellner launched a subsidiary company named Working Title 2 Productions, commonly known as WT2. The company is an independent film production arm run by Natascha Wharton, and has produced films that include Billy Elliot, Shaun of the Dead and The Calcium Kid.[5]

Television division

Working Title has been active in television production since the beginning of the 1990s.[9] In February 2010, Working Title officially launched its television division as a joint venture with parent company NBCUniversal, itself owned by Comcast.[10] Since then, they have produced content for both British and American television.[11][12] Notable productions and co productions developed by Working Title Television (WTTV)[13] include NBC's About a Boy, and Showtime's The Tudors.[9]

WTTV has offices in London and Los Angeles.[14][15]

TV productions

Title Years Co-production Network Notes
The Borrowers 1992 BBC Two
Tales of the City 1993 Propaganda Films
Channel Four
The Baldy Man 1995–1998 Central Independent Television ITV
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) 2000–2001 BBC One
The Tudors 2007–2010 Reveville Erie
Octagon Entertainment
Peace Arch Entertainment
Showtime Networks
TV3
Love Bites 2011 Loud Blouse Productions
Universal Television		 NBC
Yonderland 2013–2016   Sky 1
About a Boy 2014–2015 True Jack Productions
TriBeCa Productions
Universal Television		 NBC
You, Me and the Apocalypse 2015
NBCUniversal International Studios
 Sky 1
NBC
London Spy NBCUniversal International Studios
BBC America		 BBC Two
Gypsy 2017 Rhythm Arts Entertainment
Pen and Paper Industries
Universal Television		 Netflix
Hanna 2019–2021
NBCUniversal International Studios
 Amazon Prime Video
The Case Against Adnan Syed 2019 Instinct Productions
Disarming Films
HBO Documentary Films
NBCUniversal International Studios		 HBO
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City 2019 Sweatpants Productions
Universal Television
NBCUniversal International Studios		 Netflix
The Luminaries 2020 Southern Light Films
TVNZ
Fremantle
Silver Reel		 TVNZ
BBC One
We Are Lady Parts 2021–present Channel 4
Everything I Know About Love 2022–present BBC One

1991 ITV franchise bid

In 1991, Working Title was involved in a bid for the London Weekend ITV licence. Working Title, Mentorn, Palace and PolyGram wanted to take over from London Weekend Television and broadcast to London under the name London Independent Broadcasting. In the event LWT retained its licence; London Independent Broadcasting's proposals were deemed by the Independent Television Commission, which was overseeing the bid process, to fail the quality threshold.[16]

Films

1980s

Release date Title Notes
15 November 1985 My Beautiful Laundrette with
Channel Four Films
24 July 1987 Wish You Were Here with Channel Four Films
30 October 1987 Sammy and Rosie Get Laid with Channel Four Films
17 June 1988 A World Apart
10 September 1988 Paperhouse with Vestron Pictures
13 April 1989 The Tall Guy with London Weekend Television
19 May 1989 For Queen and Country
14 November 1989 Diamond Skulls

1990s

Release date Title Notes
22 June 1990 Fools of Fortune with
Channel Four Films
27 July 1990 Chicago Joe and the Showgirl with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and New Line Cinema
13 May 1991 Robin Hood
24 May 1991 Drop Dead Fred with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and New Line Cinema
21 August 1991 Barton Fink with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and
20th Century Fox
18 October 1991 Edward II
13 December 1991 London Kills Me with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Fine Line Features
15 May 1992 Rubin & Ed with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
17 July 1992 Dakota Road with Channel Four Films, British Screen Productions and Mayfair Entertainment
4 September 1992 Bob Roberts with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,
Miramax Films and LIVE Entertainment
23 April 1993 Map of the Human Heart with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Miramax Films
14 May 1993 Posse with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
8 October 1993 The Young Americans with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and
Live Entertainment
4 February 1994 Romeo Is Bleeding with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
9 March 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,
Channel Four Films
and Gramercy Pictures
11 March 1994 The Hudsucker Proxy with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures
3 May 1995 Panther with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
5 May 1995 French Kiss with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and
20th Century Fox
29 September 1995 Moonlight and Valentino with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
29 December 1995 Dead Man Walking with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
8 March 1996 Fargo with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
22 March 1996 Land and Freedom with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
20 September 1996 Loch Ness with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
7 March 1997 The Eighth Day with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
2 August 1997 Bean with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Tiger Aspect Films and Gramercy Pictures
3 October 1997 The Matchmaker with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
5 December 1997 The Borrowers with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
6 March 1998 The Big Lebowski with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
22 November 1998 Elizabeth with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,
Channel Four Films
and Gramercy Pictures
29 January 1999 The Hi-Lo Country with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
28 May 1999 Notting Hill with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
1 October 1999 Plunkett & Macleane with StudioCanal, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures

2000s

Release date Title Notes
31 March 2000 High Fidelity with Touchstone Pictures
13 October 2000 Billy Elliot with
BBC Films, Tiger Aspect Productions, StudioCanal
and Universal Focus
2 December 2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou? with Touchstone Pictures, Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
8 December, 2000 The Man Who Cried with StudioCanal, Universal Pictures and Adventure Pictures
13 April 2001
Bridget Jones's Diary
 with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
17 August 2001 Captain Corelli's Mandolin with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
2 November 2001 The Man Who Wasn't There with
USA Films, Gramercy Pictures and Good Machine
1 March 2002 40 Days and 40 Nights with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
22 March 2002 Ali G Indahouse with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
17 May 2002 About a Boy with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and TriBeCa Productions
23 August 2002 The Guru co-production with StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
18 July 2003 Johnny English with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
22 August 2003 Thirteen with
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Universal Pictures and Antidote Films
28 October 2003 Long Time Dead with Universal Pictures and Focus Features
14 November 2003 Love Actually with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and DNA Films
26 March 2004 Ned Kelly with Focus Features and StudioCanal
30 July 2004 Thunderbirds with StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
17 September 2004 Wimbledon with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
24 September 2004 Shaun of the Dead with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Rogue Pictures
19 November 2004
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
 with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
4 February 2005
Rory O'Shea Was Here
 with Focus Features and StudioCanal
22 April 2005 The Interpreter with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
23 November 2005 Pride & Prejudice with Focus Features and StudioCanal
27 January 2006 Nanny McPhee with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
28 April 2006 United 93 with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
27 October 2006 Catch a Fire with Focus Features and StudioCanal
26 January 2007 Smokin' Aces with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
14 February 2007 Hot Fuzz with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Rogue Pictures
24 March 2007 Mr. Bean's Holiday with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Tiger Aspect Films
12 October 2007 Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
4 January 2008 Atonement with Focus Features and StudioCanal
14 February 2008 Definitely, Maybe with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
12 September 2008 Burn After Reading with Focus Features, Relativity Media and StudioCanal
5 December 2008 Frost/Nixon with Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and StudioCanal
17 April 2009 State of Play with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
24 April 2009 The Soloist[17] with DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures, Participant Media, StudioCanal and Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment[18]
2 October 2009 A Serious Man with Focus Features, Relativity Media and StudioCanal
13 November 2009 The Boat That Rocked with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal

2010s

Release date Title Notes
12 March 2010 Green Zone with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
2 April 2010 Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang with StudioCanal
18 March 2011 Paul with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
12 August 2011 Senna with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
21 October 2011 Johnny English Reborn with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
9 December 2011 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Focus Features and StudioCanal
13 January 2012 Contraband with Universal Pictures
3 February 2012 Big Miracle with Universal Pictures and Anonymous Content
16 November 2012 Anna Karenina with Focus Features
25 December 2012 Les Misérables with Universal Pictures, Relativity Media and Cameron Mackintosh, Ltd.
8 February 2013 I Give It a Year with StudioCanal
19 July 2013 The World's End with Universal Pictures, Focus Features, and Relativity Media
28 August 2013 Closed Circuit with Focus Features
4 September 2013 About Time with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
27 September 2013 Rush with Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Exclusive Media, Cross Creek Pictures and Revolution Films
9 October 2014 Trash with StudioCanal, O2 Filmes and PeaPie Films
1 January 2015 The Theory of Everything with Focus Features
28 August 2015 We Are Your Friends with Warner Bros. Pictures, StudioCanal and RatPac Entertainment
9 September 2015 Legend with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Cross Creek Pictures and Anton Capital Entertainment
18 September 2015 Everest with Universal Pictures, Walden Media and Cross Creek Pictures
14 October 2015 The Program with StudioCanal
27 November 2015 The Danish Girl with Pretty Pictures, Revision Pictures, Senator Global Productions, Universal Pictures International and Focus Features
5 February 2016 Hail, Caesar! with Universal Pictures and Mike Zoss Productions
11 March 2016 The Brothers Grimsby with
Big Talk Productions
and Four by Two Productions
16 September 2016 Bridget Jones's Baby[19] with StudioCanal, Miramax and Universal Pictures
30 June 2017 Baby Driver with Big Talk Productions,
Media Rights Capital
15 September 2017
Victoria and Abdul
 with
BBC Films
, Focus Features and Universal Pictures
13 October 2017 The Snowman with Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures and Another Park Film
12 January 2018 Darkest Hour with Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Perfect World Pictures
16 March 2018 7 Days in Entebbe with
Participant Media
and Focus Features
26 October 2018 Johnny English Strikes Again with StudioCanal, Perfect World Pictures and Universal Pictures
7 December 2018 Mary Queen of Scots with Perfect World Pictures and Focus Features
25 January 2019 The Kid Who Would Be King with Big Talk Productions,
20th Century Fox
28 June 2019 Yesterday with Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures and Decibel Films
20 December 2019 Cats with Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Monumental Pictures and Really Useful Group

2020s

Release date Title Notes
14 February 2020 Emma. with Focus Features, Blueprint Pictures and Perfect World Pictures
29 May 2020 The High Note with Focus Features and Perfect World Pictures
24 July 2020 Radioactive with
Amazon Studios
21 October 2020 Rebecca with
Big Talk Productions
29 October 2021 Last Night in Soho with Focus Features, Film4 Productions and Complete Fiction
25 February 2022 Cyrano with
Bron Creative
23 September 2022 Catherine Called Birdy with Amazon Studios and Good Thing Going[20]
21 October 2022 Ticket to Paradise with Universal Pictures, Red Om Films, and Smokehouse Pictures[21]
11 November 2022 The Swimmers with Netflix[22]
9 December 2022 Matilda the Musical with Netflix, TriStar Pictures and the Roald Dahl Story Company[23]
24 February 2023 What's Love Got to Do with It? with StudioCanal and Instinct Productions[24]
8 April 2023 Polite Society with Focus Features and Parkville Pictures[25]
22 November 2023 Genie with Peacock, Universal Pictures, and Linden Productions[26][27]
23 February 2024 Drive-Away Dolls with Focus Features[28]

Upcoming

Title Notes
Blitz with Apple TV+, Regency Enterprises, New Regency and Lammas Park[29]
Falling with Universal Pictures[30]
In Five Years with
Max[31]
Johnny English 4 with StudioCanal[32]
Relax with Independent Entertainment[33]
The Substance with Universal Pictures[34]
Unreasonable Behaviour with Hardy Son & Baker[35]
Untitled Anna May Wong biopic with Significant Productions[36]
Untitled Baby Driver sequel with
Big Talk Productions[37][38][39]

References

  1. ^ a b "WORKING TITLE FILMS LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. 14 October 1992. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "WT milestones". Variety. 14 December 1998. p. 106.
  3. ^ a b c d Dawtrey, Adam (14 December 1998). "The billion-dollar indie". Variety. p. 99.
  4. ^ Barton Fink at the American Film Institute Catalog
  5. ^ a b Higgins, Charlotte (16 April 2005). "Interview: Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, co-chairmen Working Title Films". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. ^ Carver, Benedict (14 December 1998). "'Weddings' opened door to H'wd". Variety. p. 106.
  7. ^ "Working Title – Skillset". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Kay, Jeremy (11 December 2020). "Universal, Working Title renew first-look deal through 2025". Screen. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Working Title Television [gb]". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  10. ^ Laughlin, Andrew (17 February 2010). "Working Title launches TV division". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (16 November 2011). "Working Title Television Sells 6 Projects". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  12. ^ Leo Barraclough (23 January 2014). "Working Title Television Produces 'The Secrets' for BBC". Variety.
  13. ^ "About WTTV". workingtitlefilms.com. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. ^ Prudom, Laura (17 October 2014). "BBC America Co-Producing 'London Spy' Miniseries with Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent". Variety. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Liza Chasin". Variety. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  16. ^ Davidson, Andrew, Under the Hammer: The ITV Franchise Battle, William Heinemann Ltd., p. 297.
  17. ^ "The Soloist".
  18. ^ https://cinemastudies.sas.upenn.edu/events/2010/October/RussKrasnoffProducer [dead link]
  19. ^ Stuart Kemp, Matthew Belloni (3 February 2012). "'Bridget Jones 3' Producer Admits Delay, Vows to Shoot Film in 2012". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  20. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (21 August 2019). "Lena Dunham Launches New Production Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  21. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (26 February 2021). "George Clooney & Julia Roberts Re-Team In 'Ticket To Paradise;' Ol Parker Directs For Universal, Working Title". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  22. ^ Roxborough, Scott (20 April 2021). "Real-life Sisters Cast to Star in Netflix/Working Title Drama 'The Swimmers'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  23. ^ Wood, Alex (17 January 2020). "New Matilda film confirmed – expected to start shooting later this year". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  24. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 November 2020). "Lily James, Shazad Latif & Emma Thompson To Star In Working Title Rom-Com 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' From Jemima Khan & Shekhar Kapur; Studiocanal Launches Sales — AFM Hot Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  25. ^ Galuppo, Mia (15 February 2022). "'We Are Lady Parts' Creator Sets Feature Debut 'Polite Society' at Focus, Working Title". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  26. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (14 December 2022). "Melissa McCarthy To Star In Richard Curtis-Scripted Christmas Comedy For Universal, Working Title & Peacock; Sam Boyd To Direct". Deadline. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  27. ^ Grobar, Matt (1 November 2023). "Melissa McCarthy, Paapa Essiedu's Peacock Comedy 'Genie' From 'Love Actually's Richard Curtis Gets Premiere Date, Trailer, First Look Photos". Deadline. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  28. ^ Kroll, Justin (1 April 2022). "Ethan Coen Sets Next Feature With Focus And Working Title". Deadline. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  29. ^ Kroll, Justin (6 June 2022). "Apple Lands Steve McQueen's Next Feature Film 'Blitz'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  30. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (21 March 2023). "As T.J. Newman Is Set To Adapt Debut Novel 'Falling', Her Follow-up 'Drowning: The Rescue Of Flight 1421' Drops In Hollywood". Deadline Hollywood.
  31. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (22 April 2022). "New Line Acquires Rebecca Serle's Novel 'In Five Years' For HBO Max; Aimee Lagos To Adapt". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Johnny English 4' to film in Malta and UK this summer". Screendaily. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  33. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (10 May 2023). "Frankie Goes To Hollywood Biopic 'Relax' In The Works With 'It's A Sin' Star Callum Scott Howells, Working Title & Independent Entertainment — Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  34. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (31 January 2022). "Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley To Star In Universal/Working Title's 'The Substance'; 'Revenge' Helmer Coralie Fargeat Directs Her Script". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  35. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (19 November 2020). "Angelina Jolie To Direct Movie 'Unreasonable Behaviour' About Revered War Photographer Don McCullin; Working Title & Hardy Son & Baker Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  36. ^ Sun, Rebecca (24 March 2022). "Gemma Chan, Nina Yang Bongiovi Developing Anna May Wong Biopic With Working Title Films (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  37. ^ Collis, Clark (December 4, 2017). "How director Edgar Wright steered Baby Driver to global success". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  38. ^ Hall, Jacob (5 December 2017). "'Baby Driver' Sequel "Being Hammered Out," Edgar Wright Plans to Write the Screenplay". /Film. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  39. ^ Travis, Ben; Nugent, John (21 January 2019). "Edgar Wright's Next Film Is A Psychological Horror, Plus Baby Driver 2 Update – Exclusive". Empire. Retrieved 21 January 2019.

External links

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