Latest news with #Roven
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Charles Roven Reflects On Career & Collaborations, Says ‘Road House 2' Likely Starting In September
Veteran producer Charles Roven was here in Taormina this week to pick up an Achievement Award from the festival ahead of a special screening of Zack Snyder's Man of Steel which had originally played the event a dozen years ago. Roven, whose long list of credits also includes Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and the filmmaker's Oscar winning 2023 Oppenheimer, as well as Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman, Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys and David O. Russell's American Hustle, got his producing start with Shirley Muldowney biopic Heart Like a Wheel in 1983 and tells us about that experience below in a quick-take reflection on a decades-spanning career, and shares insight into the state of the business. More from Deadline Da'Vine Joy Randolph On Emerging Industry "Sisterhood" & Power Of Sharing Info On Salary Talks - Taormina Michael Douglas, In Taormina To Receive Career Honor, Apologizes For U.S. Role In Ongoing Global Conflicts: "This Is The Worst Time That I Can Ever Remember" 'Thena': First Look At Peter Gold's Gritty Debut Ahead Of Taormina Premiere Next up on Roven's producing slate is Chris Pratt-starrer Mercy, due in January 2026 via MGM, and Guy Ritchie's Road House 2 with Jake Gyllenhaal which Roven said, 'should be starting in September.' (The Q&A below has been edited and condensed for clarity.) Oppenheimer CHARLES ROVEN: I've had a lot of people tell me that. It fills me with a lot of joy to have been part of making that movie and seeing it come to fruition… From beginning to end, my involvement with that movie was like it was just meant to be. ROVEN: I'm interested to see what James (Gunn) does. I've known James for a long time. We started working together on the live action Scooby Doo movies. He's a very talented man, and I know he's in the process of trying to reboot the DC Universe to his own vision. And you know, the truth is going to be in the pudding pretty soon (when Gunn's Superman releases next month). I wish him the best, and I wish Warner Bros the best. I've done many movies with them. It'll be interesting to see what happens when they break the company apart. DEADLINE: Were you surprised by the news earlier this week that Warner Bros Discovery will split into two entities. ROVEN: Not really, because I've known for a while, just tracking the business, that the cable companies, while they have a certain level of value… they do some content creation, but not a lot of content creation. They have a lot of revenue that's generated by, you know, the downstream of those, of other things that are created for HBO Max or Warner Bros, or that ultimately come to them. So it may be a good thing. DEADLINE: How are you feeling about the theatrical business in general these days? ROVEN: I've seen theatrical ebb and flow, really, over the course of, I think I came into the business, I put the shingle up 'producer,' like in the 70s. The theatrical business was not doing well then, and they were just suffering from big losses on big tentpoles that didn't make any money. And then they started making some, what you would call today an independent movie, and the business came back. And then, of course home entertainment… But then, boom, the theatrical business came back. And then we had COVID, which really hurt the theatrical business — maybe more than that disease needed to because, to be honest, I never heard of anybody getting COVID in a movie theater… So I'm glad that at least, in '23 Barbenheimer helped the business, and I'm really glad to see that now in '25 after a rocky start, there's a lot of box office coming back and it makes me very happy — and the box office is happening both domestically and around the world. I couldn't be happier, and I believe that the theatrical experience is one that people desire. I'm not saying that streaming isn't good for the business. Creating content is what our business is all about, but I think they can both thrive, and they both should thrive, and one of the things that I'm watching thrive right now is what Amazon is doing, both with their Amazon Prime, but with moving MGM forward. And now, not only have they done an expansion of their theatrical business since Courtenay (Valenti) took over, but also they're moving back into international distribution. (WATCH) Charles Roven's acceptance speech at Taormina Film Festival He is the recipient of the Taormina Achievement Producer Award — Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 11, 2025 DEADLINE: What would you say has been the most pivotal point in your career? ROVEN: Certainly the first movie. I watched Shirley Muldowney, who was the first woman to ever win a world championship in car racing, and she did it in drag racing, and she did it by actually beating her boyfriend. And I got in my car, I drove down to Pomona. She was packing up all her stuff. I was in my mid 20s, and I said, 'Hi, I'm Chuck Roven, and I'm a film producer and I'd like to option the rights to your life story.' She goes, 'Honey, I just kicked my ex-boyfriend's ass, but I'll tell you, he was also my sponsor. Now I have no money for a ride, so if you can get me money for a ride, you can have the rights to my life.' And I managed her for 10 years…The first one's always memorable. And, of course, making movies with Chris (Nolan) and Emma (Thomas), the success we've had together is pretty remarkable. Also working with Terry Gilliam on 12 Monkeys. That was my first really big hit, and it was a very special experience. David Russell, working with him has been a special experience. James Gunn, I've been lucky. Zack Snyder, we've done some pretty good things together. Patty Jenkins, the first Wonder Woman — obviously, something that took a while to get made, but turned out great. When I think about Christian Bale, I've done three Batmans, American Hustle. I'm hoping to make another movie with him. He's just amazing. Yeah, I've been really fortunate working with some really, really, very, very talented people in front of the camera, behind the camera. Best of Deadline Use The Schwartz!: 'Spaceballs' Movie Photos & Posters 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
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First Post
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Firstpost At Waves 2025: 'We need to create distribution channel in different countries': Aamir Khan
Dinesh Vijan agreed with Aamir and said 'content is king, but distribution is god' in the filmmaking business. read more Superstar Aamir Khan and film producer Dinesh Vijan on Friday said Indian filmmakers should look beyond India while marketing their movies and there is a need to create a distribution channel in different countries. Aamir attended the session 'Studios of the Future: Putting India on the World Studio Map' on the second day of the WAVES summit in Mumbai alongside 'Stree' producer Dinesh Vijan, Excel Entertainment's Ritesh Sidhwani, PVR INOX chief Ajay Bijli, veteran American producer Charles Roven and Mumbai-based VFX firm DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The superstar-producer batted for better distribution network not just in India but also globally. 'As Indian producers, we've to spend time creating a distribution channel in different countries, then things will start changing. We haven't bothered about it,' Aamir said during the session where he also batted for the need to invest in more screens across the country. Vijan agreed with Aamir and said 'content is king, but distribution is god' in the filmmaking business. 'They have spent time and effort to build an international market. It requires focus and money. So, we need to do that. We don't have that organised. Like everyone says, content is king, but a very wise man told me distribution is God. So, I don't think our films reach that far, which we have to work on it,' the producer said. Roven, known for backing blockbuster franchises like 'The Dark Knight' trilogy and 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice', said Indian filmmakers can learn from Hollywood how to widen their distribution network globally. 'Your business is so inside India, and my business is around the world. The model is completely different. You've a lot of independence in a certain kind of way, all of you make movies for content, and you decide how you are going to exhibit it, sometimes as you are finishing them or after you finish them,' Roven said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But unlike India, the producers in the West make the decision whether a particular movie will be released in theatres or on streaming even before they start the production. 'I rarely make something where I'm going to decide how I'm going to exhibit. But everything I do starts with the intention that 'I want to show it around the world', I don't think that's where you guys come from,' Roven said. Aamir interrupted and said, 'No, we don't, you're absolutely right.' Roven responded, saying, 'What is great about this whole event in my humble opinion is that, 'You should be looking at the world and figure it out.' Aamir agreed with Roven's perspective and said that while Indian filmmakers often prioritise content driven by the local audience, a shift towards a global outlook is needed. 'The decision to make a film is rarely connected to its distribution, it's the material that excites me, then I want to make that. It's not that this film has potential in China, because with great difficulty, I understand what is working in India, what's working in China, but I don't understand. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'But he is so right, his observation that we make films for our market, and we don't think of an international audience. We've a large and healthy audience in different languages, and each language has a strong and vibrant audience. I feel the more local you are in your content, the more global you're naturally.' PVR INOX chief Ajay Bijli hailed the impressive commercial success of Indian films in theatres, and said there's a need for more 'feast' moments. 'We've had seven films doing Rs. 500 crore business, so the demand is still insatiable. Pre-COVID-19, there was only one movie that did above Rs. 500 crore business. So, what's happening is we've had a feast and famine situation, like you've a feast and then you've a jackpot, and suddenly there's a complete famine,' Bijli said. Sidhwani said today streaming platforms are taking Indian content outside the diaspora. 'Streaming platform gave me the opportunity to tell different kinds of content, you've an audience there who is not watching broadcast TV but is consuming content from around the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'So, that gave birth to a lot of new talent behind the camera, the writer's room was set up, and there was a technical crew coming on board. The format is different where the series is concerned. People have discovered Indian content. If an Indian film goes outside the diaspora, the western audience is aware because your content is available in 200 countries,' he said. Malhotra, who is producing filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming 'Ramayana' movie featuring Ranbir Kapoor, said the project is meant for both India and the world. 'We are garnishing the right mix of talent, technology, and the way we want to go about it is to make it local in the world,' he added. Held at the Jio World Convention Centre, WAVES is billed as the biggest gathering of the media and entertainment industry. It is aimed at giving a boost to the creator's economy taking shape across the world, integrating sectors like films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting and emerging tech. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
India Today
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Your business is just inside India: Oppenheimer producer on India's global reach
On the second day of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, Hollywood veteran and Oppenheimer producer Charles Roven shared valuable insights into why Indian films often struggle to gain global traction. Speaking during a panel titled 'Studios of the Future: Putting India on the World Studio Map', Roven pointed out that India's film industry primarily focusses on domestic business is just so inside in India and my business is so around the world,' said Roven. 'I make movies and content, whether they go on streamers or motion pictures, and it's usually decided before I even start the production. Very rarely, though I make something just like get it made, then I will decide how it will get exhibited. With everything that I do is start up with the intention that I want to show up around the world.'Roven emphasised that most Indian filmmakers don't approach projects with international reach in mind. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who was also present at the session, agreed with Roven's assessment. 'You're absolutely right,' Khan admitted. Khan, however, also highlighted the structural challenges Indian cinema is facing. 'India is a film-loving nation, but vast areas still lack even a single theatre,' he said. "My belief is that we need to have a lot more theatres in India and theatres of different kinds. There are districts and vast areas in the country that don't have a single theatre," the actor noted that India significantly falls behind countries like the US and China in terms of cinema screen count. This limits the domestic box office potential and thereby discourages large-scale investments aimed at global session, one of the most talked-about at the summit, also included leading industry names like producer Ritesh Sidhwani, Dinesh Vijan, Namit Malhotra, and Ajay Bijli, founder of PVR Inox.
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First Post
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Firstpost At Waves 2025: Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra calls Ranbir Kapoor & Sai Pallavi starrer is meant for both India and the world: 'We are garnishing the right mix of talent, technology...'
Malhotra, who is producing filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming Ramayana movie featuring Ranbir Kapoor, said the project is meant for both India and the world. read more Superstar Aamir Khan and film producer Dinesh Vijan on Friday said Indian filmmakers should look beyond India while marketing their movies and there is a need to create a distribution channel in different countries. Aamir attended the session 'Studios of the Future: Putting India on the World Studio Map' on the second day of the WAVES summit in Mumbai alongside 'Stree' producer Dinesh Vijan, Excel Entertainment's Ritesh Sidhwani, PVR INOX chief Ajay Bijli, veteran American producer Charles Roven and Mumbai-based VFX firm DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The superstar-producer batted for better distribution network not just in India but also globally. 'As Indian producers, we've to spend time creating a distribution channel in different countries, then things will start changing. We haven't bothered about it,' Aamir said during the session where he also batted for the need to invest in more screens across the country. Vijan agreed with Aamir and said 'content is king, but distribution is god' in the filmmaking business. 'They have spent time and effort to build an international market. It requires focus and money. So, we need to do that. We don't have that organised. Like everyone says, content is king, but a very wise man told me distribution is God. So, I don't think our films reach that far, which we have to work on it,' the producer said. Roven, known for backing blockbuster franchises like 'The Dark Knight' trilogy and 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice', said Indian filmmakers can learn from Hollywood how to widen their distribution network globally. 'Your business is so inside India, and my business is around the world. The model is completely different. You've a lot of independence in a certain kind of way, all of you make movies for content, and you decide how you are going to exhibit it, sometimes as you are finishing them or after you finish them,' Roven said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But unlike India, the producers in the West make the decision whether a particular movie will be released in theatres or on streaming even before they start the production. 'I rarely make something where I'm going to decide how I'm going to exhibit. But everything I do starts with the intention that 'I want to show it around the world', I don't think that's where you guys come from,' Roven said. Aamir interrupted and said, 'No, we don't, you're absolutely right.' Roven responded, saying, 'What is great about this whole event in my humble opinion is that, 'You should be looking at the world and figure it out.' Aamir agreed with Roven's perspective and said that while Indian filmmakers often prioritise content driven by the local audience, a shift towards a global outlook is needed. 'The decision to make a film is rarely connected to its distribution, it's the material that excites me, then I want to make that. It's not that this film has potential in China, because with great difficulty, I understand what is working in India, what's working in China, but I don't understand. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'But he is so right, his observation that we make films for our market, and we don't think of an international audience. We've a large and healthy audience in different languages, and each language has a strong and vibrant audience. I feel the more local you are in your content, the more global you're naturally.' PVR INOX chief Ajay Bijli hailed the impressive commercial success of Indian films in theatres, and said there's a need for more 'feast' moments. 'We've had seven films doing Rs. 500 crore business, so the demand is still insatiable. Pre-COVID-19, there was only one movie that did above Rs. 500 crore business. So, what's happening is we've had a feast and famine situation, like you've a feast and then you've a jackpot, and suddenly there's a complete famine,' Bijli said. Sidhwani said today streaming platforms are taking Indian content outside the diaspora. 'Streaming platform gave me the opportunity to tell different kinds of content, you've an audience there who is not watching broadcast TV but is consuming content from around the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'So, that gave birth to a lot of new talent behind the camera, the writer's room was set up, and there was a technical crew coming on board. The format is different where the series is concerned. People have discovered Indian content. If an Indian film goes outside the diaspora, the western audience is aware because your content is available in 200 countries,' he said. Malhotra, who is producing filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming 'Ramayana' movie featuring Ranbir Kapoor, said the project is meant for both India and the world. 'We are garnishing the right mix of talent, technology, and the way we want to go about it is to make it local in the world,' he added. Held at the Jio World Convention Centre, WAVES is billed as the biggest gathering of the media and entertainment industry. It is aimed at giving a boost to the creator's economy taking shape across the world, integrating sectors like films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting and emerging tech. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
We need to create distribution channel in different countries: Aamir Khan
Mumbai, Superstar Aamir Khan and film producer Dinesh Vijan on Friday said Indian filmmakers should look beyond India while marketing their movies and there is a need to create a distribution channel in different countries. Aamir attended the session "Studios of the Future: Putting India on the World Studio Map" on the second day of the WAVES summit in Mumbai alongside "Stree" producer Dinesh Vijan, Excel Entertainment's Ritesh Sidhwani, PVR INOX chief Ajay Bijli, veteran American producer Charles Roven and Mumbai-based VFX firm DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra. The superstar-producer batted for better distribution network not just in India but also globally. 'As Indian producers, we've to spend time creating a distribution channel in different countries, then things will start changing. We haven't bothered about it,' Aamir said during the session where he also batted for the need to invest in more screens across the country. Vijan agreed with Aamir and said 'content is king, but distribution is god' in the filmmaking business. 'They have spent time and effort to build an international market. It requires focus and money. So, we need to do that. We don't have that organised. Like everyone says, content is king, but a very wise man told me distribution is God. So, I don't think our films reach that far, which we have to work on it,' the producer said. Roven, known for backing blockbuster franchises like "The Dark Knight" trilogy and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice', said Indian filmmakers can learn from Hollywood how to widen their distribution network globally. "Your business is so inside India, and my business is around the world. The model is completely different. You've a lot of independence in a certain kind of way, all of you make movies for content, and you decide how you are going to exhibit it, sometimes as you are finishing them or after you finish them,' Roven said. But unlike India, the producers in the West make the decision whether a particular movie will be released in theatres or on streaming even before they start the production. "I rarely make something where I'm going to decide how I'm going to exhibit. But everything I do starts with the intention that 'I want to show it around the world', I don't think that's where you guys come from,' Roven said. Aamir interrupted and said, 'No, we don't, you're absolutely right.' Roven responded, saying, 'What is great about this whole event in my humble opinion is that, 'You should be looking at the world and figure it out.' Aamir agreed with Roven's perspective and said that while Indian filmmakers often prioritise content driven by the local audience, a shift towards a global outlook is needed. 'The decision to make a film is rarely connected to its distribution, it's the material that excites me, then I want to make that. It's not that this film has potential in China, because with great difficulty, I understand what is working in India, what's working in China, but I don't understand. "But he is so right, his observation that we make films for our market, and we don't think of an international audience. We've a large and healthy audience in different languages, and each language has a strong and vibrant audience. I feel the more local you are in your content, the more global you're naturally.' PVR INOX chief Ajay Bijli hailed the impressive commercial success of Indian films in theatres, and said there's a need for more 'feast' moments. 'We've had seven films doing Rs. 500 crore business, so the demand is still insatiable. Pre-COVID-19, there was only one movie that did above Rs. 500 crore business. So, what's happening is we've had a feast and famine situation, like you've a feast and then you've a jackpot, and suddenly there's a complete famine,' Bijli said. Sidhwani said today streaming platforms are taking Indian content outside the diaspora. "Streaming platform gave me the opportunity to tell different kinds of content, you've an audience there who is not watching broadcast TV but is consuming content from around the world. "So, that gave birth to a lot of new talent behind the camera, the writer's room was set up, and there was a technical crew coming on board. The format is different where the series is concerned. People have discovered Indian content. If an Indian film goes outside the diaspora, the western audience is aware because your content is available in 200 countries," he said. Malhotra, who is producing filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming "Ramayana" movie featuring Ranbir Kapoor, said the project is meant for both India and the world. "We are garnishing the right mix of talent, technology, and the way we want to go about it is to make it local in the world," he added. Held at the Jio World Convention Centre, WAVES is billed as the biggest gathering of the media and entertainment industry. It is aimed at giving a boost to the creator's economy taking shape across the world, integrating sectors like films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting and emerging tech.
