Universal Pictures and Working Title Films announced Friday that they have extended their long-standing production agreement through 2020.
The new agreement replaces the first-look deal set to expire this year. The companies’ relationship dates back to 1999. Most recently, Working Title released Oscar-winning Stephen Hawking biopic “The Theory of Everything.”
Working Title has produced more than 100 films grossing over $6 billion worldwide, $5 billion of which have resulted from the more than 50 films the company has made with Universal Pictures.Donna Langley, the chairman of Universal Pictures, made the announcement alongside Working Title co-chairmen Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.
Working Title has a library of films that have been nominated for 43 Academy Awards (winning 11) and more than 100 BAFTA Awards (winning 37), including “Les Misérables,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” “Billy Elliot” and the “Bridget Jones” franchise. The Working Title team also won a 2004 BAFTA Award for their outstanding contributions to the world of British cinema.
Working Title and Universal are currently in production on “Hail, Caesar!” with frequent Working Title collaborators Joel and Ethan Coen. Universal will release the adventure film “Everest,” starring Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes and Jake Gyllenhaal later this year. Working Title and Focus Features are also in production on “The Danish Girl” from Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper, which stars “The Theory of Everything’s” Eddie Redmayne.
“Working Title is the biggest and best international production company in the world and we’ve been privileged to be in business with them for many cherished years,” Langley said. “Tim, Eric and their team have been incredible partners with whom we have celebrated much success and we look forward to repeating that success in the future.”