In a deal brokered by CAA, Demarest Films and Kilburn Media have announced a partnership on an overall deal with The Combine, the production company founded by Jeremy Renner and writer-director Don Handfield.
Originated in 2011, Renner and Handfield’s film and television production company has already produced the upcoming film, “Kill the Messenger,” starring Renner, and has additional films in the works, including “The Throwaways,” slated for Crackle later this year.
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As part of the deal, Demarest and Kilburn will cover The Combine’s overhead costs, as well as providing substantial funding for the acquisition and development of new projects. This is in exchange for a first-look opportunity to produce and finance all projects originated by the company.
Renner and Handfield will work side-by-side with Sam Englebardt and William D. Johnson of Demarest, and Mark Manuel and Ted O’Neal of Kilburn.
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“Jeremy and I are extremely excited about our new partnership with Demarest and Kilburn,” said Handfield. ” They bring to the table a unique combination of creative taste and financial resources, and have great vision for the future of the business,” said Handfield.
Demarest’s Englebardt said of the deal, “Jeremy and Don have the creative relationships, intellectual horsepower, and development savvy to acquire and control quality content from its inception. Demarest and Kilburn have long sought to back a creative team whose ambitions so closely match our own, so we are thrilled to be partners with The Combine and look forward to helping them bring many projects to fruition.”
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“We’re pleased to launch our formal strategic partnership in our film division with a deal as compelling as The Combine,” added Kilburn’s Manuel. “Given the scarcity of film companies that consistently and reliably back quality film projects, we and Demarest believe that well-capitalized, progressive media financiers should work together to create strength in the film and television market. This deal marks the first step in that direction.”