Universal Forges 3-Year Distribution Deal With Cross Creek

The studio will release at least six Cross Creek movies under the pact

Universal Pictures will distribute at least six Cross Creek Pictures movies over the next three years, the two companies announced Wednesday.

They also are looking to see which Universal projects can be produced and financed by Cross Creek, which produced "Black Swan."

The first movie Universal will distribute under the deal is Ron Howard's "Rush," a racing film written by Peter Morgan. Cross Creek is co-financing and co-producing that movie, which is now in production, with Exclusive Media Group.

Among the projects now in development at Universal that Cross Creek may finance is "The Creed of Violence," which Todd Field wrote and is attached to direct.

That film is about an assassin and a government agent who try to stop an arms smuggling ring in 1910.

The Cross Creek movies will have an average cost of $30 million and will have a budget range between $15 million and $65 million.

The company intends to make three or four movies each year, with Universal distributing at least two.

Cross Creek is Timmy Thompson and Brian Oliver's production and financing company. Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," which grossed some $330 million worldwide on a $13 million budget, was its first film.

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