Billblock Media has closed a first-look production deal with Warner. Bros. Pictures who will handle global distribution for all titles. The first film in development under the two-year deal isSam Raimi’s near-future feature filmWorld War 3, based onpredictionsinGeorge Friedman’s non-fiction best-selling book The Next 100 Years. Billblock Media optioned the book and is actively developing the adaptation.
The book was published in 2009, described as “a fascinating, eye-opening and often shocking look at what lies ahead for the U.S. and the world from one of our most incisive futurists.“George Friedmanis the founder of STRATFOR, a private intelligence and forecasting firm, which predicts drastic changes around the world throughout the 21st Century, based on his own analysis. Among the many predictions in this book,Friedmanbelieves that the “U.S.-Jihadist"warwill be replaced by anotherCold Warwith Russia.
Other predictions hint that China’s role as a world power will diminish, Mexico will become an important force on the geopolitical stage and new technologies and cultural trends will radically alter the way we live (and fight wars). What remains unclear is how these predictions will be turned into a narrative movie. It isn’t clear ifSam Raimiis writing thescriptas well as directing, but we don’t have any further details at this time. Here’s whatBill Blockhad to say in a statement.
“Warner Bros is an extraordinary studio and we are grateful and thrilled to be in business with Greg and his creative team as we develop movies with worldwide box office potential. Starting with a film bySam Raimikicks off what we hope will be a long and fruitful relationship.”
As part of the production deal, Block has closed a multi-million dollar private development fund to acquire and develop projects with global distribution potential for packaging. Block recently closed a multi-year agreement with Red Granite International to act as the exclusive international sales agent for the company’s upcoming production slate outside of the Warner Bros. deal. Block’s recent production titles include Dirty Grandpa, starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron, which has taken in over $55 million at the worldwide box office since its US release on January 22nd through Lionsgate;, and Bad Moms, produced for STX who takes worldwide rights. The film stars Mila Kunis and Christina Applegate and is in production. A leading independent feature film producer, Block also produced David Ayer’s Fury, starring Brad Pitt, Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 and Elysium; Oliver Stone’s W.; and Fading Gigolo, starring Woody Allen and John Turturro.
