In a joint press release, MGM announced that Warner Bros. will distribute its upcoming films overseas, parting ways with Universal Pictures for international film distribution.
However, the pact does not include Bond 26, the next installment in the James Bond series, as well as director Chinonye Chukwu’s historical drama Till (set for Oct. 14) and Women Talking (Dec. 2).
Universal Pictures International is handling the release of these films outside the United States as part of a previous distribution agreement between the two companies.
Universal had supported MGM in pandemic period releases with titles such as House of Gucci ($100 million overseas), Paul Thomas Anderson’s coming-of-age Licorice Pizza ($15 million) and No Time to Die ($613 million internationally).
Before handing over the torch to Universal, Sony Pictures International had released the first four episodes of 007 starring Daniel Craig as the world’s most famous spy. With the new deal, Warner Bros. will be responsible for Bond 27, although it may take some time. Longtime custodians of the Bond franchise, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, have yet to announce a successor to Craig, who has now hung up his smocking.
The partnership between MGM and Warner Bros. will begin with director Luca Guadagnino’s much-anticipated new film Bones and All, which will debut Nov. 23 after passing through the Venice Film Festival, as well as Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut Creed III, scheduled for March 3, 2023. The deal may have been brokered by former MGM leaders Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, who were recently appointed co-presidents and CEOs of Warner Bros.
The new Warner MGM deal also includes worldwide home entertainment distribution on all newly released MGM titles.
