Universal Announces Veteran ICM Agent Ben Smith as President of Ludlum Entertainment's Production Entity
Posted on: Monday, 8 December 2008, 13:59 CST
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Veteran ICM agent Ben Smith
has been tapped by Ludlum Entertainment to become President of its newly
established production entity which maintains a first look arrangement with
Universal Pictures. Smith will oversee the development of projects based on
the renowned author's novels as well as original material alongside Ludlum
Entertainment Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Weiner. ICM, which will continue to
represent the Ludlum estate with Henry Morrison, in concert with Weiner
recently closed a long-term deal with Universal that gives the studio
exclusive rights to the Jason Bourne character and first look at other Ludlum
novels.
"We are very pleased to be working with the Ludlum Entertainment and Ben
Smith is a welcome addition to the team," said Donna Langley, President of
Production at Universal Pictures.
"As a young adult the first novel I was given was The Parsifal Mosaic by
Robert Ludlum and I have been a tremendous fan of him and the genre ever
since" said Smith. "This is a natural progression in my career and I am
grateful and aware that this fantastic opportunity would not exist if it
weren't for the incredible work Universal has done with the Bourne series. I
look forward to working alongside Jeffrey Weiner to help create new films from
the Ludlum library as well as finding other original material that will fit
within the brand."
"Ben Smith has been instrumental in setting up every Ludlum package since
the release of The Bourne Identity in 2002," said Ludlum Entertainment
Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Weiner. "He has a unique understanding of the Ludlum
properties and how to get them from the pages Robert Ludlum wrote to today's
motion picture audience. I'm thrilled he agreed to head our development
office and look forward to working together to bring more Ludlum and other
projects to our loyal and growing fan base."
Added Jeffrey Berg, Chairman and CEO of ICM, "We will miss Ben as an agent
but this is a brilliant opportunity for him to build upon all of his agency
skills and creatively supervise the film activity of one of the most popular
authors on the market. This also allows us to continue in business with Ben
and Jeffrey to help create new film franchises from Mr. Ludlum's remarkable
catalogue as well as other film projects that they intend to attract."
With the first three films in the Bourne franchise grossing a total of
more than $1 billion worldwide, Universal and the Ludlum estate are working on
a fourth installment. The film will again star Matt Damon and be directed by
Paul Greengrass with George Nolfi writing the screenplay. Frank Marshall,
Jeffrey Weiner and Patrick Crowley will produce the latest installment in the
franchise.
Other Ludlum properties in active development include The Sigma Protocol
at Universal; The Matarese Circle with Denzel Washington attached to star and
David Cronenberg to direct for MGM; The Chancellor Manuscript with Leonardo
DiCaprio attached to star for Paramount; and The Osterman Weekend with Simon
Kinberg writing and directing for Summit Entertainment.
About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios
(http://www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC
Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and
entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of
entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004
through the combining of NBC and Vivendi, NBC Universal owns and operates a
valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion
picture company, significant television production operations, a leading
television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%
owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
SOURCE Universal Pictures
Source: PR Newswire
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