Brad Weston Launches Production Venture Backed by eOne

Entertainment One (eOne) is backing the new content creation company Makeready, founded by industry veteran Brad Weston.

Makeready will develop and produce original feature films and high-end television for premium cable, OTT and emerging platforms on a worldwide basis. The plan is to release two pictures annually starting next year, with Universal Pictures committed to handling worldwide theatrical marketing and distribution for the company’s feature films. Meanwhile, eOne will be handling theatrical distribution across its footprint, including Canada, the U.K., Australia/New Zealand, Benelux and Spain. eOne will also look after international distribution of all TV content from Makeready.

Weston, who serves as Makeready’s CEO, has worked in the entertainment business for more than 30 years. He most recently served as president and CEO of New Regency, where he led the company to 34 Academy Award nominations and 12 wins, including for the films The Revenant, Birdman, Gone Girl, 12 Years a Slave and The Big Short.

Pam Abdy will head Makeready’s executive team, alongside the company’s soon-to-be announced television and digital executives. Abdy most recently served as president of production for New Regency, working closely with Weston on The Revenant and The Big Short, among others.

Makeready already has several projects in various stages of development, including Saigon, a TV series from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson’s Appian Way and writer David James Kelly. The series reunites Weston with Appian following the blockbuster hit The Revenant. Abdy landed the recent New York Times best-selling novel They Can’t Kill Us All, which chronicles the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement and is being developed as a limited series.

Weston said: “I am lucky to have Universal and eOne as partners. I have always admired everything my longtime friend Donna Langley has done. We share similar business philosophies and sensibilities. Combining our easy relationship with their brilliant marketing, Universal is a comfortable and natural fit. In eOne, I’ve found an ambitious, global, like-minded partner who shares my passion for great content. I believe that the confidence that Darren Throop and the eOne team have shown in me and Makeready will prove to be the foundation for a long and successful future together.”

Darren Throop, the CEO of Entertainment One, added: “We are thrilled to support Brad on the launch of his new company. We have always been impressed by his incredible track record of delivering compelling content that is as commercially successful as it is award-worthy, and we are excited to be able to deliver that content to audiences around the world.”

Donna Langley, the chairman of Universal Pictures, commented: “Brad’s filmmaker-driven approach and proven track record for delivering both prestigious and commercial films make him a perfect fit for the studio, and we look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

“I learned a long time ago in this business that it’s all about the talent, and that’s never been more true than it is today,” said Weston. “Assembling the best filmmakers, showrunners, writers and actors is crucial in order to break through the noise and grab people with something truly bold and original. The only way to make that impact is to collaborate with people with singular visions and that are strong enough to execute. At Regency, our mandate was to work with great directors whose films should be made independently but also warranted worldwide studio distribution. That proved to work out really well, and so with Makeready it will be that same approach applied to film, television and digital content.”

“I am incredibly excited to have Pam on board; she is a terrific executive, a great and trusted friend who I have enjoyed tremendous success with over 13 years working together, and there is no one I would rather build this new venture with than her,” continued Weston.