03/04/2007

Just two months after its split with Dreamworks (see news), Aardman Features –the celebrated UK production company behind the widely successful Chicken Run, Flushed Away [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – announced yesterday that it is in final negotiations to enter into a three-year, first-look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).

Aardman co-founder and Executive Chairman David Sproxton said: “We know from experience that we create our best work when we do it from our home base here in Bristol, using first class talent from the nation and around the world. We are all very excited by the potential and have a number of projects we are keen to bring to fruition with this new relationship”.

The Aardman pact also complements the strong slate being created by SPE, which last year debuted with Open Season and will soon release the highly anticipated CG feature Surf’s Up.

Commenting on the announcement Michael Lynton, SPE’s chairman and CEO, added: “Aardman Features are enormously popular all over the world. We believe that their strength is their unique storytelling humour, sensibility and style and we plan to bring their distinctive animated voice to theaters for a long time to come. This is a tremendous coup for Sony Pictures Entertainment as we continue to expand into animation.”