The British Network Distributing has signed an agreement with the emblematic British horror company Hammer Films for the creation of Hammer Studios Ltd.
Network CEO Tim Beddows and CFO Jonathan Lack and Hammer CEO Simon Oakes will lead the new company.
The new entity will manage and control Hammer’s interests in its vast content library such as “The Woman in Black” (2012), “Let Me In” (2010), “Dracula” (1958), “The Abominable Snowman” ( 1957) and “The Quatermass Experiment” (1953). Hammer Studios will invest substantially in both the restoration and the development of new production from both its ownership and the newly established IP.
The restoration plans are in line with the ethos of the Network, as it is a well-known name for movie lovers, mining the vaults of TV companies and film studios since 1997, discovering cult programs and movies and making them available in home video and digital formats.
The restoration of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”, “The Prisoner” and hundreds of British films released by The British Film Network have made them an important destination for filmmakers. He has also collaborated with ITV, BBC, ITC, Fremantle, Studiocanal and many others for more than 3000 releases.
Meanwhile, Hammer, which began in 1934, continues production, with its latest release being “The Lodge” (2020).
Beddows said: “This collaboration is a truly exciting opportunity to merge Hammer’s amazing library with the Network infrastructure. “As we work to restore his entire list back to the enjoyment of future generations, we are just as excited about developing new producers from Hammer’s rule.”
Oakes added: “This new partnership will, for the first time, professionalize the restoration and creation of elements necessary to distribute the Hammer Library to all media. At the same time, with the Network, we will be able to build on the legacy of the most emblematic British film brand, which started in 1934 and is alive and starting in 2021 “.
