Benderspink Dissolving Production-Management Company After 18 Years
JC Spink and Chris Bender are dissolving their 18-year-old management-production company Benderspink, which has been involved in “The Hangover” trilogy, “We’re the Millers,” “A History of Violence” and “Zombeavers.”
The duo said the split is amicable in a statement issued Tuesday: “We started Benderspink in our late 20s almost 18 years ago. We could not be more proud of what we’ve achieved together and are excited for this next chapter in each of our lives.”
The statement did not elaborate on what they will do next.
Spink focused mostly on management while Bender focused on producing. The company was formed in 1998 after the two had worked as assistants at Zide-Perry Productions, where Bender received a co-producing credit on “American Pie.”
The duo, who met at Bucknell University, had a long-time first-look deal through New Line that launched in 2001. They delivered mid-budget titles such as “Horrible Bosses” and “The Butterfly Effect” franchises, “Vacation,” “Just Friends,” “A History of Violence,” “We’re the Millers,” “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” the “Arthur” reboot and “Monster-in-Law.”
“A History of Violence” received the most critical praise for a Benderspink title with two Oscar nominations. “We’re the Millers,” which took over a decade to develop, was their top grossing movie at $270 million worldwide.
Benderspink generated mostly comedies, starting with 2001’s “Cats & Dogs” that year. Bender played a key role in the development of “The Hangover” franchise, by suggesting that the plot could involve a bachelor party gone wrong, inspired by his brother’s spec script “One Night.”
He and Spink were involved in several non-Warner Bros. projects — “The Ring” and “Ride Along” franchises, “I Am Number Four” and their most recent produced film, Kevin Costner’s action-thriller “Criminal,” released by Lionsgate.
Bender is a producer on the upcoming “Under the Silver Lake” from “It Follows” filmmaker David Robert Mitchell.
Former Benderspink employees include producers Roy Lee and Mason Novick, “The Vampire Diaries” showrunner Julie Plec, Studio 8 executive Jon Silk and Mosaic manager Langley Perer.
Related stories
Paradigm, Benderspink Sign Mexico's Emiliano Rocha Minter (EXCLUSIVE)
Paradigm Signs "The Incident's' Isaac Ezban (EXCLUSIVE)
Joelle Charbonneau Novel 'Need' in the Works as Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
