Guest jester Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Pulled this off of Businesswire... BW)(CT-WORLD-WRESTLING-ENT)(WWE) WWE Creates New Los Angeles-Based Film Division; Names Joel Simon As WWE Films President; New Division to Seek Film, Television Opportunities for WWE Brand Business & Entertainment Editors STAMFORD, CONN.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 2002--Having made itself into a global television and live event powerhouse, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., has established WWE Films to focus its efforts on expanding its role within the film and television industries and has appointed Joel Simon to be the new division's president. Simon, a well-known producer of feature film and television, will be based in WWE's new Los Angeles office. "We're very excited to open WWE Films in Los Angeles. This new division will focus on developing movie and television projects," said WWE CEO Linda McMahon. "In Joel Simon, we have someone with the tenure and expertise to make this new venture a success. WWE Films will create and produce new and exciting material that will appeal not only to our loyal fans but to a larger public as well." Mrs. McMahon said Simon will create feature film opportunities in which WWE will play a role as producer. The success of The Rock® and the theatrical feature with Universal, The Scorpion King, is one example of the type of opportunity WWE will continue to seek in feature films by placing WWE Superstars in prominent roles. In addition, Simon will develop new television projects - such as movies, specials or series-that will benefit from an affiliation with WWE or its Superstars. WWE will finance its own overhead and development for these projects. Simon said he was thrilled with the opportunity. "WWE is a powerful brand that is an untapped creative resource for Hollywood," he said. "I believe that WWE has created a new breed of action-adventure hero, one with a ready-made audience. WWE attracts a strong, youth-oriented audience, the type of moviegoers and viewers who can financially make or break a film. My job is to show how the WWE brand and its Superstars can be used to best advantage to bring its global audience of teens and young adults to new film and television projects." Simon comes to WWE from his own production company, Joel Simon Productions, formed in October 2001. He was formerly president of Quincy Jones Media Group and Quincy Jones/ David Salzman Productions. He was also a Producer/Partner in Todman/Simon Productions. Among his feature production credits is X- Men and X- Men 2 (due in 2003), Til Death Do Us Part (due in 2003, starring Michael Douglas), Wild Wild West, Hard to Kill and Married to the Mob. For television, he produced the series, The People Next Door, for CBS/ Lorimar, as well as movies of the week for NBC/ Warner Brothers and Turner Network Television. He also produced the five-hour documentary, Say It Loud, for VH-1. Scott Stuber, President of Production, Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment, said, "We had a great experience working with WWE on The Scorpion King, and the hiring of a pro like Joel Simon to head WWE Films demonstrates the company's commitment to playing a meaningful role in the film industry." Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS, said, "WWEhas a proven track record for producing popular television shows. Expanding their brand is a natural next step and Joel Simon is a good guy to have leading that effort." World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Chicago, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Information on television ratings and community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.
Guest Hogan Made Wrestling Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Well, since Joel Simon is doing X-Men 2, they can already do one easy casting: Albert as "Beast". He won't even need a costume.
Guest BoboBrazil Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 There is an interview with this guy on wwe.com. He says they are looking at HHH, Booker T, and Big Show as potential actors for the films.
Guest Nevermortal Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 I'd kill to see Booker T in Scorpion King 2...he's got a sword.
Guest Brian Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Wow...HHH was really jealous of the Rock.
Guest Hogan Made Wrestling Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 I think the Big Show could work is some comedic roles. He was great on SNL with The Rock.
Guest Nevermortal Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 I think the Big Show could work is some comedic roles. He was great on SNL with The Rock. He could play Fat Guy #3.
Guest Austin3164life Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 This is so fucking stupid. My sentiments exactly. This reeks of XFL all over again, except a different type of venture. What is Vince thinking?
Guest BoboBrazil Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Actually, this movie division is a smart move. They can make a cheap movie for 5-10 million and then make 20-30 million back on it easily on box office alone, not to mention the dvd and vhs sales.
Guest jester Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Triple H acting. Movie reviewers will eat him alive.
Guest Nevermortal Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Ebert: HHH turned in a heart-wrenching role as a recovering alcoholic, but my question is, why was he spitting water every 5 minutes?
Guest CoreyLazarus416 Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Only problem: I fear that a wrestler or something to do with wrestling will appear in EVERY movie, regardless of what kind of movie it is. As everybody knows, the key to a good film company is not finding a niche, but making all kinds of movies. The only successful film company to find a nice and not try to expand into all kinds of movies is Troma (with horror/comedies), and even then the word "successful" is stressed, as each movie is make-or-break. I fear that WWE Films (awful fucking name, Vinny; was the name "Titan Films" really that bad?) will be all shoot-'em-up action flicks and awful comedies that nobody finds funny but Vince and Steph.
Guest the pinjockey Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Wow...HHH was really jealous of the Rock. It's funny because its true. I can just picture HHH whining to Vince that Rock is a movie star and Austin had a recurring TV character and he wants to play too. Can they go two weeks anymore without giving HHHaters more ammo to make jokes out of?
Guest Hogan Made Wrestling Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Also, it's not just about WWE making their own films, but getting roles in other films for their superstars, and then taking an executive producing credit or something (an example being the Scorpion King).
Guest Nevermortal Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 You know what I just realized? With the movie studio...and Hogan back.. They can make my dream flick, NO HOLDS BARRED 2!
Guest Hogan Made Wrestling Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 How about Booker T in a ghetto comedy with Ice Cube?
Guest Shaved Bear Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 wow, the producers must really be beating the doors down for the Rock
Guest the pinjockey Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 How about Booker T in a ghetto comedy with Ice Cube? Can he still have a sword?
Guest Hogan Made Wrestling Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Does as stiletto switchblade count as a sword?
Guest Shaved Bear Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 ok, I'm wondering if they are gonna put and X over a common name, like if they named it Xaramount or Xuniversal
Guest Angle-plex Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 HHH- Star Steph - Lead Actress Vince - director HBK- Evil Leader Nash/Hall/Pac- HBK's bodygaurds Hogan - HHH's father Angle- Thug #1 Jericho - Janitor And Edge would just occasionally jump in and spear somebody.
Guest Shaved Bear Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 HHH+Head Role=Stupidest movie since Knock-Off
Guest Jobber of the Week Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 This is all because Vince must STILL think that he can use pro wrestling as a platform to enter other media and entertainment ventures. GIVE IT UP VINCE. THE XFL KILLED IT FOR YOU. You will never have that chance again. The public sees you as a wrestling promoter, or worse, a smut peddler ala Larry Flynt. Go back to shilling your "pro wrasslin'" because nobody will take you seriously doing anything else.
Guest wwF1587 Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 Yeah why put all the attention on your dying wrestling company when you can make movies. God why? Another stupid wrestling knock off movie. FACE IT, Beyond the Mat, was the ONLY good wrestling based movie. I guess they could do actions and romances but hey, it sucks either way.
Guest Angle-plex Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 The only WWE movie I would even think about buying is a divas porno.
Guest BorneAgain Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 So we have a man who has failed three times outside of wrestlling (Vince), The man who starred in movies like "Santa with Muscles" and Mr. Nanny (Hogan), and a woman who can't write storylines worth a crap (Stephanie) all possibly invlovled in this movie company. Oh I can just see the millions of dollars that will pour in.
Guest Ironman Posted July 31, 2002 Report Posted July 31, 2002 You sure this isn't them just making more Austin videos? Yeah yeah...
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