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Fox 2000 Pictures

Fox 2000 Pictures was an American film production company within The Walt Disney Studios. It was founded by Laura Ziskin on January 7, 1994, as a sister studio of the larger film studios 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures, specializing in producing independent films in mid-range releases that largely targeted underserved groups.[1] The company dissolved on May 14, 2021, following the release of The Woman in the Window on Netflix, and the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company on March 20, 2019.[2][3]

Most films from Fox 2000 Pictures were released under the 20th Century Fox banner, and sometimes under Fox Searchlight Pictures. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed the films produced by Fox 2000 Pictures in theatrical markets since 2019 until its closure in 2021.

Fox 2000 Pictures produced over 70 films.[1] Fox 2000 Pictures' Life of Pi was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, ultimately winning four, and was the division's highest-grossing film with $609 million worldwide.[4] Marley & Me was Fox 2000 Pictures' biggest commercial success with a record for the largest Christmas Day box office ever with $14.75 million in ticket sales.[5]

History

Fox 2000 Pictures formed as a division of 20th Century Fox in 1994 with Laura Ziskin as president.[6] In May 1997, producer Art Linson moved his Knickerbocker Films banner from 20th Century Fox to Fox 2000 Pictures with a three-year exclusive production agreement.[7] In 2000, Ziskin left the division[6] and Elizabeth Gabler was hired to replace her.[8] In February 2012, Gabler renewed her contract as president of Fox 2000 Pictures.[8]

Fox 2000 Pictures signed Karen Rosenfelt's Sunswept Entertainment to a first-look production deal. In July 2014, the division agreed to a three-year first-look production deal with Color Force, a production partnership of Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.[9] The Jackal Group, a Fox Networks Group and Gail Berman partnership, signed a first-look feature film production deal with Fox 2000 Pictures for Berman in February 2015.[10]

On March 20, 2019, The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox, including Fox 2000 Pictures.[11] Disney originally announced that Fox 2000 Pictures would continue operating after the acquisition, which gave Disney 11 film units. However, the next day, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Disney would shut down the studio in October 2019 after The Woman in the Window. Deadline Hollywood was surprised as Fox 2000 Pictures, considered to be ideal for streaming films, was the reason for the 21st Century Fox acquisition.[12] However, Fox Searchlight Pictures was also an indie division leaving little room for Fox 2000 Pictures.[13] In August 2019, The Art of Racing in the Rain became the final theatrical film of the studio. The division shut down on May 14, 2021, after The Woman in the Window was delayed twice, first due to re-editing after test screenings and then because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][14][15] On August 4, 2020, Disney sold the film to Netflix.[16][17]

List of releases

References

  1. Scott Mendelson. Thanks To Netflix And YouTube, Fox 2000 Was An Inevitable Casualty Of The Disney-Fox Deal Forbes, March 22, 2019, retrieved April 23, 2019^
  2. Cynthia Littleton. Disney Completes 21st Century Fox Acquisition Variety, March 19, 2019, retrieved March 19, 2019^
  3. Rebecca Keegan. Amy Adams' 'Woman in the Window' to Move to 2020 as Disney Retools Fox Film The Hollywood Reporter, July 9, 2019, retrieved July 9, 2019^
  4. Brent Lang. Disney Ending Fox 2000 Label Variety, March 21, 2019, retrieved April 23, 2019^
  5. 'Marley & Me' sets Christmas Day record Today.com, December 25, 2008, retrieved January 7, 2014^
  6. Cynthia Littleton. Producer Laura Ziskin dies at 61 Variety, June 13, 2011, retrieved April 23, 2019^
  7. Chris Petrikin. Fox 2000 Lands Linson Variety, May 2, 1997, retrieved April 23, 2019^
  8. Jeff Sneider. Elizabeth Gabler reups at Fox 2000 Variety, February 14, 2012, retrieved April 23, 2019^
  9. Dave McNary. 'Hunger Games' Producer Nina Jacobson Signs First-Look Deal with Fox Variety, April 23, 2009, retrieved April 23, 2019^
  10. Linda Ge. Gail Berman Signs First Look Deal With Fox 2000 TheWrap, February 9, 2015, retrieved July 14, 2019^
  11. Georg Szalai, Paul Bond. Disney Closes $71.3 Billion Fox Deal, Creating Global Content Powerhouse The Hollywood Reporter, March 20, 2019, retrieved March 20, 2019^
  12. Mike Fleming. Elizabeth Gabler's Fox 2000 To Shutter As Disney Takes Over Deadline Hollywood, March 21, 2019, retrieved April 23, 2019^
  13. Brent Lang. Disney Retiring Fox 2000 Label Variety, March 21, 2019, retrieved April 24, 2019^
  14. Anthony D'Alessandro. Amy Adams 'Woman In The Window' Will Now Open In Early Summer, 'Cruella' Moves To 2021 Deadline Hollywood, August 20, 2019, retrieved September 23, 2020^
  15. Rebecca Rubin. 'Black Widow' Release Pulled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic Variety, March 17, 2020, retrieved March 17, 2020^
  16. Mike Jr. Fleming. Netflix Negotiating For 'The Woman In The Window' With Amy Adams; Last Fox 2000 Elizabeth Gabler Project Will Be Let Go By Disney Deadline Hollywood, August 3, 2020, retrieved August 3, 2020^
  17. Devon Ivie. The Woman in the Window Movie Really, Finally Has a Release Date Vulture, March 4, 2021, retrieved March 27, 2021^