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 Logo used since 2024 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Hal Sadoff, Norman Golightly, Douglas McClure |
| Products | Motion Pictures, television |
| Parent | OEG Inc. |
| Website | https://darkcastle.com |
Dark Castle Entertainment is a film, TV, and digital projects production label.[2] It is owned by North American sports and entertainment company, OEG Inc.[3] The firm is led by co-CEOs Hal Sadoff[4] and Norman Golightly.[5]
The majority of Dark Castle films from the late 1990’s to mid 2010’s were distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.[6] The company’s later films have also been distributed by Paramount Pictures[7] and Shudder/AMC.[4]
History
1998 — 2003: Homage to William Castle, the early years
Dark Castle was founded in 1998[8] by Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis, and Gilbert Adler.[9]The Dark Castle name pays homage to William Castle, a horror filmmaker from the 1950s and 1960s.[6] When first formed, the goal of the company was to remake Castle’s horror films. After two remakes, House on Haunted Hill[10] and Thirteen Ghosts,[11] they moved on to producing original material,[12] along with remakes of non-Castle films.[13]
2003 — 2013: More horror, action
Gothika, starring Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jr., was Dark Castle’s first original film in 2003.[12] They followed it up with House of Wax, the company’s first remake of a non-Castle film.[9][14]
In 2008, the company moved beyond the horror genre to produce the action film RocknRolla.[15]
Dark Castle released Orphan, a psychological horror film, in 2009.[16] The film grossed $80 million on a $20 million budget.[17] The company produced its first martial arts film, Ninja Assassin, later that year.[18]
In 2010, they produced action film adaptions of The Losers based on the DC Vertigo comic of the same name,[19] and Unknown starring Liam Neeson, which grossed $136 million against its $30 million budget.[20]
After a long relationship with Warner Bros. Pictures as their main distributor,[6] Dark Castle began working with other distributors including Paramount Pictures[7] and Shudder/AMC.[4]
2015—Present: New ownership and commercial success
Dark Castle was acquired by Daryl Katz of OEG Inc. in 2015.[2][3] Hal Sadoff was named CEO.[2]
The company released its first film under OEG the following year, neo noir comedy crime movie The Nice Guys, starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling.[21]
Next, Dark Castle produced black comedy crime film Suburbicon written by the Coen Brothers, directed by George Clooney, starring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore.[22][23]
In 2018, Dark Castle produced Superfly,[24] a remake of the 1972 film Super Fly.[25]
Dark Castle continued to produce horror films, including Seance, starring Suki Waterhouse,[26] and the prequel to Orphan, Orphan: First Kill, starring Isabelle Fuhrman from the original Orphan movie.[27] In 2020, the company began producing television with the sci-fi horror series The Expecting.[28]
In 2019, Dark Castle produced Last Breath, which is based on the documentary Last Breath and stars Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu.[29]
In 2023, the company filmed Old Guy starring Christoph Waltz,[30] and financed the film Shell, starring Elizabeth Moss and Kate Hudson, directed by Max Minghella.[31]
Filmography
Lifetime grosses
(A) Indicates minimum, as that is only two countries totals merged.
References
- ^ "Dark Castle Entertainment | LinkedIn". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ a b c Hipes, Partick (April 27, 2015). "Joel Silver Teams With Financier Daryl Katz, Launches New Company; Hal Sadoff CEO". Deadline.
- ^ a b Fisher, Eric (April 6, 2023). "The Next Chapter for Daryl Katz and OEG". NHL.com.
- ^ a b c Hipes, Patrick (February 25, 2021). "Simon Barrett-Helmed Horror Pic 'Seance' Scores U.S. Deal Via RJLE Films And Shudder; IFC Films Scare up Right To 'Werewolves Within' – Film Briefs". Deadline.
- ^ "Norman Golightly".
- ^ a b c Garrahan, Matthew (December 17, 2006). "The Matrix: Recapitalised". Financial Times.
- ^ a b Chapman, Wilson (July 13, 2022). "'Orphan: First Kill' Trailer: Isabelle Fuhrman Rerturns as Esther in Long-Awaited Horror Prequel". Variety.
- ^ Caddell, Ian (March 28, 2007). "Dark Castle strikes out on its own". The Georgia Straight.
- ^ a b Roxborough, Scott (December 7, 2021). "Egyptian Star Mohamed Karim, Dark Castle Team on Horror Film 'Book of Chaos'(Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ a b Carver, Benedict (January 14, 1999). "Oh, the horror!". Variety. Archived from the original on 2023-04-29.
- ^ a b Valle, Avi (August 13, 2023). "Thirteen Ghosts Set to be Revived as New 13-Part Spook Filled Series". Movie Web.
- ^ a b Craft, Dan (November 29, 2003). "Lunatics running this wacko movie asylum". p. D8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Guthrie, Luna (June 14, 2023). "2005's 'House of Wax' Introduced Us to Classic Horror While Ushering In a New Era". Collider.
- ^ Guthrie, Luna (June 14, 2023). "2005's 'House of Wax' Introduced Us to Classic Horror While Ushering In a New Era". Collider.
- ^ Stone, Jay (September 10, 2008). "Ritchie swept away by films". p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Rene (October 30, 2009). "Modest little picture's a frightful romp". p. 20G – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Donnelly, Matt (November 2, 2020). "'Orphan' Prequel Enlists Isabelle Fuhrman to Reprise Role of Esther (Exclusive)". Variety.
- ^ a b Fritz, Ben (November 30, 2009). "'Blind Side' No. 2 but takes spotlight from 'New Moon'". p. 20G – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Debruge, Peter (April 21, 2010). "The Losers". Variety.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 29, 2021). "'Unknown' Series Sequel To Movie In Works At TNT With Liam Neeson Producing, Jaume Collet-Serra Directing". Variety.
- ^ "The Nice Guys". Dark Castle.com.
- ^ Truitt, Brian (October 24, 2017). "Review:George Clooney's messy 'Suburbicon' disappoints as a retro dark comedy". USA Today.
- ^ a b Rooney, David (September 2, 2017). "'Suburbicon': Film Review". Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Superfly". Dark Castle.com.
- ^ McNary, Dave (May 25, 2018). "Film News Roundup: Sony Opening Crime Thriller 'Superfly' Two Days Earlier". Variety.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 22, 2019). "Suki Waterhouse To Star In Horror 'Seance' For Dark Castle Entertainment, HanWay & Ingenious – AFM". Deadline.
- ^ D’Alessandro, Anthony (November 6, 2020). "Rossif Sutherland Joins eOne &Dark Castle's Horror Prequel 'Orphan: First Kill'". Deadline.
- ^ Grater, Tom (June 12, 2020). "Olivia Munn To Star In & Produce Action Pic 'Replay' -Cannes". Deadline.
- ^ "Last Breath". Dark Castle.com.
- ^ a b Stephan, Katcy (March 12, 2024). "The Avenue Lands North American Rights to 'Old Guy' (Exclusive)". Variety.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 5, 2024). "Arian Moayed, Este Haim, Lionel Boyce, Ziwe & More Join Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson & Kaia Gerber In Max Minghella's Thriller 'Shell'(Exclusive)". Yahoo News.
- ^ Willman, Chris (June 10, 1989). "TV Reviews: 'Crypt' Tales Subtle as a Sledgehammer". LA Times.
- ^ Germain, David (October 25, 2002). "'Ghost Ship' best left on the sea floor". p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Rooney, David (November 16, 2003). "Gothika". Variety.
- ^ Guthrie, Luna (June 14, 2023). "2005's 'House of Wax' Introduced Us to Classic Horror While Ushering In a New Era". Collider.
- ^ Hart, Hugh (April 1, 2007). "Real scare for cast of 'Reaping'". SF Gate.
- ^ Garcia, Víctor (2007-10-16), Return to House on Haunted Hill (Crime, Fantasy, Horror), Amanda Righetti, Cerina Vincent, Erik Palladino, Warner Premiere, Dark Castle Entertainment, BUFO
- ^ "Botched (2008) | BFI". 2016-09-15. Archived from the original on 2016-09-15.
- ^ "WarnerBros.com | Rocknrolla | Movies". www.warnerbros.com.
- ^ Leydon, Joe (March 2, 2009). "Eschelon Conspiracy". Variety.
- ^ Sena, Dominic (2009-09-11), Whiteout (Action, Crime, Mystery), Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt, Warner Bros., Dark Castle Entertainment, StudioCanal
- ^ Parker, Dave (2009-09-29), The Hills Run Red (Horror, Mystery, Thriller), Sophie Monk, Tad Hilgenbrink, William Sadler, Warner Premiere, Dark Castle Entertainment, Fever Dreams, retrieved 2024-04-17
- ^ D’arcy, David (January 25, 2010). "Splice". Screen Daily.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ Lincoln, Todd (2012-08-24), The Apparition (Horror, Thriller), Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Tom Felton, Warner Bros., Dark Castle Entertainment, StudioCanal
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (June 10, 2011). "Joel Silver's Dark Castle Boards Sylvester Stallone Action Film". Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ O'Neill, Morgan (2013-06-01), The Factory (Crime, Mystery, Thriller), John Cusack, Dallas Roberts, Vincent Messina, Dark Castle Entertainment, Mel's Cite du Cinema, Silver Pictures
- ^ Foundas, Scott (August 28, 2013). "Film Review: 'Getaway". Variety.
- ^ Black, Shane (2016-05-20), The Nice Guys (Action, Comedy, Crime), Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Warner Bros., Silver Pictures, Waypoint Entertainment
- ^ X, Director (2018-06-13), Superfly (Action, Crime, Thriller), Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Lex Scott Davis, Columbia Pictures, Silver Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing
- ^ Collis, Cork (October 5, 2020). "A pregnancy turns terrifying in trailer horror show The Expecting". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Mack, Andrew (February 26, 2021). "Simon Barrett's Seance Heading to Shudder And RLJE Films". Screen Anarchy.
- ^ Goff, Oscar (August 19, 2022). "Review"Orphan: First Kill (2022) Dir. William Brent Bell". Boston Hassle.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (May 6, 2022). "Hot Cannes Package: Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Djimon Hounsou In 'Last Breath,' Alex Parkinson's Narrative Remake of His Harrowing Docu". Deadline.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (May 4, 2023). "Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson & Kaia Gerber To Star In Thriller 'Shell' For Director Man Minghella, Automatik & Black Bear International – Cannes Market Hot Package". Deadline.
- ^ House on Haunted Hill (1999)
- ^ Thirteen Ghosts (2001)
- ^ Thirteen Ghosts (2001) - International Box Office Results
- ^ a b Ghost Ship (2002)
- ^ a b Gothika (2003)
- ^ a b House of Wax (2005)
- ^ a b The Reaping (2007)
- ^ The Reaping DVD (2007)
- ^ RocknRolla (2008)
- ^ RocknRolla DVD (2008)
- ^ a b c Orphan (2009)
- ^ a b Whiteout (2009)
- ^ Whiteout DVD (2009)
- ^ Ninja Assassin(2009)
- ^ Ninja Assassin DVD (2009)
- ^ The Losers (2009)
- ^ The Losers DVD (2010)
- ^ Splice (2010)