Veteran sales executive Daniel Diamond is leaving Morgan Creek Productions as early as this week, where he has served as head of international distribution since 2009, an individual with knowledge of his departure told TheWrap.
Diamond joined the company shortly after ex-CAA agent Rick Nicita was brought on to oversee an ambitious slate of projects. Nicita became co-chairman and COO before exiting Morgan Creek in January, after only one of their films, "Dream House," was released. The film, directed by Jim Sheridan, starred Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz, was universally panned by critics and brought in just $38.5 million in worldwide box office.
Morgan Creek has been working on a number of high-profile films during the duo’s tenure, including an upcoming feature film on the rapper Tupac Shakur, “Tupac.”
It was not immediately clear where Diamond is headed next.
Calls to Morgan Creek and to Diamond were not immediately returned to TheWrap.
In November, Morgan Creek also announced that it was co-financing with Universal “The Thing,” a prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 film, which was a remake of the 1950s feature of the same name. The company’s Universal deal expires in December.
During his earlier career, which included a stint as president of Fireworks Pictures, he oversaw international distribution of such titles as “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” and “Rules of Engagement.” As executive producer he worked on financing and foreign distribution agreements for such films as “The Believer,” “Tekken” and “Big Stan.”
Morgan Creek’s past releases include “Young Guns,” “True Romance” and “Dead Ringers.”
