Roland Emmerich has signed a deal with Huayi Brothers to distribute his next film, “Moonfall,” in China, the company announced on Thursday.
Huayi Brothers’ Dennis and James Wang will also serve as executive producers on the sci-fi film, which follows a last-ditch attempt to stop the moon from colliding with Earth after a mysterious force knocks it out of orbit. Emmerich is directing from a script by himself, Harald Kloser and Spenser Cohen.
Emmerich is producing Moonfall under his Centropolis banner with Kloser producing through
his company, Street Entertainment. Ute Emmerich, Stuart Ford, J.P. Pettinato, Carsten Lorenz, and
Marco Shepherd are all listed as executive producers.
“We believe that the most effective way to facilitate worldwide cultural exchange is in collaboration with top artists, and this project marks a milestone for us as a solid content creator in the international film business,” James Wang said in a statement. “Moonfall reinforces Huayi’s strategy of integrating global resources and exploring innovative ways to promote Chinese culture internationally.”
“Moonfall” will use the same independent financing strategy that Emmerich used on his latest film, the WWII epic “Midway” by using equity funding raised by Emmerich’s Centropolis with the assistance of CAA Media Finance and Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, who oversaw the deal with Huayi Brothers. Huayi Brothers and Lionsgate, the latter of whom handled U.S. and U.K. distribution for “Midway,” will assist with marketing and distribution for “Moonfall.”
CAA reps the filmmakers. For Huayi Brothers, Josh Hu oversaw the Moonfall deal with Stephen
Saltzman of law firm Paul Hastings; JP Pettinato, Marco Shepherd and attorney Richard
Thompson of Goodman Schenkman & Brecheen, LLP negotiated on behalf of Centropolis
Entertainment; and AGC’s President of Worldwide Distribution Michael Rothstein and Vice
President of Business and Legal Affairs Anant Tamirisa negotiated the deal for AGC
International.
9 Christmas Horror Movies That Scared Up Box Office, From 'Gremlins' to 'Black Christmas' (Photos)
A look at top-grossing holiday shock-fests that have inspired ho-ho-horror -- including last year's "Black Christmas" remake.
9. "Silent Night" (2012)
Opening: $9,779
Cumulative: $14,567
Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King and Donal Logue star in the film about a murderous Santa who picks off people one by one.
Anchor Bay
8. "Better Watch Out" (2016)
Opening: $12,569
Cumulative: $20,369
Olivia DeJonge plays a babysitter who must protect a 12-year-old boy after a home invasion while his parents are out at a holiday party.
Well Go
7. "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" (2010)
Opening: $9,281
Cumulative: $236,347
The film follows a group of people living near the Korvatunturi mountain who discover the secret behind Santa Claus.
Oscilloscope Pictures
6. "Anna and the Apocalypse" (2018)
Opening: $52,588 Cumulative: $545,597
In this comedic musical with grossout touches, a teenager and her friends ward off the zombie apocalypse when it comes at Christmas-time.
Orion
5. "Silent Night, Deadly Night" (1984)
Opening: $1.4 million Cumulative: $2.5 million
In the slasher film, a young boy loses his parents and years later becomes a spree killer in a Santa costume.
TriStar
4. "Black Christmas" (2019)
Opening: $4.2 million Cumulative: $10.4 million
A second remake of a 1974 Canadian film, starring Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue and Brittany O'Grady, this slasher film about sorority sisters fighting off a stalker takes a stab at feminist themes.
Universal
3. "Black Christmas" (2006)
Opening: $3.7 million Cumulative: $16.3 million
Michelle Trachtenberg, Lacey Chabert and Katie Cassidy star in the slasher film about sorority girls getting murdered one by one (a remake of a 1974 Canadian film).
MGM
2. "Krampus" (2015)
Opening: $16.3 million Cumulative: $42.7 million
A boy in a dysfunctional family turns his back on Christmas -- and accidentally unleashes a demon force as a result.
Universal
1. "Gremlins" (1984)
Opening: $12.5 million Cumulative: $148.2 million
The movie follows a young boy who breaks rules and unleashes a horde of mischievous monsters.
Warner Bros.
1 of 10
Top-grossing holiday shock-fests that have inspired ho-ho-horror — before this month’s ”Black Christmas“ remake
A look at top-grossing holiday shock-fests that have inspired ho-ho-horror -- including last year's "Black Christmas" remake.