Republic Entertainment shut down!
We have just found this article from Variety Magazine, which states that Aaron Spelling has finally shut down Republic Entertainment. Here’s the article for your convenience.
By Benedict Carver
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – Several months after ceasing feature film production, Spelling Entertainment Group is pulling out of the home entertainment business and focusing on becoming a “pure-play television production and distribution company.“”
In its latest move, Spelling is folding its Republic Entertainment subsidiary and licensing its library to Artisan Entertainment, formerly known as Live Entertainment. Under a seven-year deal, Artisan will handle North American distribution of Spelling’s 3,000 pictures and TV programs on home video and digital videodisc. Spelling will retain ownership of the titles, as well as the Republic name and logo. Neither party would disclose the financial details.
Republic, which previously handled the catalog, will cease to exist as a separate company. It has about 36 staffers, with most likely to lose their jobs. The once-prestigious Republic banner — which in its heyday was a prolific, full-fledged Hollywood studio — had become a pure video producer and distributor in the last 10 years. The company ceased film production two years ago. It withdrew from video rental last March in order to focus on sell-through.
Republic’s library contains a number of gems from its golden years, including “It’s a Wonderful Life,“” “High Noon,“” “The Quiet Man“” and 49 other John Wayne starrers. Artisan, which said its push would be primarily on the sell-through, also gets Republic’s many contemporary, genre-driven titles. These include “Bound,“” starring Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly, “Stephen King’s Thinner“” and two “Highlander“” pictures. The library also contains home entertainment rights to successful TV shows such as David Lynch’s cult hit “Twin Peaks.“”
Reuters/Variety
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