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Universal Pictures has inked a first-look production deal with Dylan Clark and his recently launched company, Dylan Clark Productions. Clark’s company will continue to develop and produce Universal titles, including Scarface and Battlestar Galactica, under this production agreement.
“Dylan is an experienced, hands-on producer with strong relationships and proven success across many genres, including big franchise films,” said Universal Pictures president of production Peter Cramer, who made the announcement Tuesday. “He’s been an important member of the Universal family, and we’re glad that he and his new company will call this studio their home for years to come.”
Clark, a former Universal executive who is well known for his role as producer of the Planet of the Apes franchise, previously worked at Bluegrass Films with Scott Stuber, who left the company to work at Netflix. During that time they developed a diverse slate of films for Universal, which will continue to be produced by Dylan Clark Productions. He and Stuber also produced Lionsgate’s Patriots Day, directed by Peter Berg and starring Mark Wahlberg.
“I’ve been fortunate to make movies with so many talented people, and during that time, the only place I have considered my true home was Universal,” said Clark. “The privilege of working with Ron, Jeff, Donna, Jimmy, and Peter on so many quality projects has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to be part of the whole Universal team.”
Two key executives who will be continuing with Dylan Clark Productions are executive vp Beau Bauman, who will oversee comedy development and production for the company, and vp production Brian Williams, who will focus on finding properties to develop into commercial action films.
Dylan Clark Productions is currently in preproduction on a reimagining of Scarface, with David Ayer attached to direct and Diego Luna (Rogue One) attached to star for Universal. The company is partnering with Michael De Luca to bring Battlestar Galactica to the screen with director Francis Lawrence and writer Lisa Joy (Westworld). Clark is also developing Bad Monkeys starring Margot Robbie; Space Race with director Dan Trachtenberg; a film based on Armada, from best-selling novelist Ernie Cline; and a film adaptation of Microsoft’s popular third-person shooter franchise Gears of War.
Clark was executive vp production at Universal in 2009 when he left to launch the film division of Chernin Entertainment with former News Corp COO Peter Chernin. As president of Chernin Films, Clark successfully rebooted the Planet of the Apes property with Chernin.
During Clark’s eight years as a production executive at Universal, he oversaw production for dozens of films, including Friday Night Lights, Dawn of the Dead, Children of Men, Cinderella Man, The Kingdom, Charlie Wilson’s War, Green Zone, Couples Retreat and Robin Hood. He began his career in film as director of development for MGM, where he worked on hit films such as Barbershop and the Denzel Washington thriller Out of Time.
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