Ken Jeong to Star
LOS ANGELES & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, and WWE Studios (NYSE:WWE) announced today that they are joining up again to co-produce a comedy with the temporary working title, UNTITLED CELEBRITY DEATH POOL. Ken Jeong (THE HANGOVER, COMMUNITY) has signed on to star in the satire which centers on a struggling nightclub owner who after amassing a large debt from a loan shark, sets out to win his long-running celebrity death pool by attempting to kill his chosen celebrity, David Hasselhoff. Darren Grant (Diary of a Mad Black Woman) will direct from a script written by Peter Hoare.
In addition to Hasselhoff, legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan® and an increasing number of other celebrities have signed on for various supporting roles and cameo appearances. Pre-production for the film commences this September in Los Angeles, with a theatrical release anticipated for 2015.
WWE Studios President Michael Luisi and Hyde Park’s Amritraj are producing the picture along with Hasselhoff, Michele Berk, Patrick Hughes and Warren Zide. Eric Gardner is Executive Producing. Hyde Park International will handle international sales with WWE Studios set to leverage its extensive multi-platform reach to promote the film.
Bradley Buchanan, SVP of Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of WWE Studios and Allen Babakhanloo, VP of Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of Hyde Park Entertainment.
Jeong is currently shooting RIDE ALONG 2 with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart for Universal Pictures.
About Hyde Park - Image Nation
Hyde Park Entertainment Group, founded by Chairman and CEO Ashok Amritraj, is a cutting-edge independent alternative to the traditional Hollywood studio system, a progressive global company that incorporates the most essential elements of a full-fledged studio. Hyde Park’s offerings encompass live-action, animation and cross-cultural cinema, and is capable of developing, producing and financing projects, as well as handling international sales and marketing.
Amritraj’s Hyde Park and Image Nation Abu Dhabi partnered in November 2008 on a $250 million financing deal to develop, produce, and distribute up to 20 feature films over seven years.
The company’s projects currently in production include 99 HOMES from acclaimed director Ramin Bahrani and starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon, the family adventure MIDNIGHT SUN, from Award Winning Director Roger Spottiswoode, and the soon to be released LIFE OF CRIME starring Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, John Hawkes, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Isla Fisher and Will Forte, which was selected as the 2013 Toronto Film Festival’s Closing Night Film.
Additionally, Hyde Park Entertainment has produced over 100 films including box office hits like GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE, starring Nicolas Cage, PREMONITION, starring Sandra Bullock, and BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, starring Steve Martin, along with critically acclaimed films like BLUE VALENTINE, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and SHOPGIRL, starring Steve Martin and Claire Danes.
About WWE Studios
WWE Studios develops and produces feature films, as well as television and digital content. Its diverse slate is released theatrically, direct to home, and/or across digital platforms, and is co-produced & distributed through partnerships with premiere global entertainment companies including Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate. WWE’s film division, led by President Michael Luisi, is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA.
Recent films from WWE Studios include The Call with Halle Berry and WWE Superstar David Otunga®, Oculus directed by Mike Flanagan starring Karen Gillan and Katee Sackhoff, Dead Man Down with Colin Farrell and WWE Superstar Wade Barrett®, No One Lives starring Luke Evans and WWE Superstar Brodus Clay™, and Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery, which paired WWE Superstars with Scooby and the gang.
Upcoming films from WWE Studios include Term Life starring Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, and Hailee Steinfeld in a Universal Pictures release, Incarnate starring Aaron Eckhart and featuring WWE Superstar Mark Henry® in a Universal Pictures release of a Blumhouse production, The Flintstones which joins Fred, Barney and the whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas in a Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release, Jingle All the Way 2 starring Larry The Cable Guy and WWE Superstar Santino Marella® in a Fox Home Entertainment release, and Leprechaun: Origins directed by Zach Lipovsky and starring WWE Superstar Hornswoggle® in a Lionsgate release.
About WWE
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