Cutting Edge, Thunder Road In Slate Deal
Cutting Edge Group and Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road have reached slate financing deal under which CEG will advance funds for Thunder Road to develop upcoming projects.
Deal was announced Friday at Cannes.
The CEG funds will be secured against Thunder Road’s forthcoming film music slate.
First project covered under the pact is action-thriller “John Wick,” set to shoot this September and starring Keanu Reeves. The slate will also inclue a remake of the French crime film “Gang Story” with Liam Neeson starring, “Safe House” director Daniel Espinosa helming and David Scarpa writing the script.
Cutting Edge noted that Thunder Road has produced as the “Clash of the Titans” fims, “The Expendables,” “The Town” and We Are Marshall.”
“Everything we do here at CEG is geared to working with the best filmmakers in the world, and that’s Thunder Road,” said CEG topper Philip Moross.
Variety reported on May 14 that CEG had formed the Cutting Edge Originals banner to develop and produce music-themed feature films.
Five-year-old CEG has invested in “The King’s Speech,” “Drive,” “Looper” and “End of Watch” in exchange for music publishing rights. It handles scoring, clearances and music supervision in a film, then recoups from soundtrack and sheet-music sales; licensing and royalties from international ticket sales and TV deals; and rights in TV commercials.
Earlier this year, CEG raised $100 million in equity as part of a strategy to become the world’s predominant vertically-integrated film music services company and then acquired film-TV soundtrack label Varese Sarabande Records.
The template for Cutting Edge Originals grew out of British comedy-musical “Unfinished Song,” starring Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton and Vanessa Redgrave, produced by Philip Moross and Ken Marshall.
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