United International Pictures chairman and CEO Stewart Tilltold ScreenDaily.com today that it's "much tooearly" to predict his career path after UIP's planned restructuring at the endof 2006.

He didn't, however, rule out the possibility suggested in aninterview with the UK's The Guardiannewspaper on September 30 that he'd establish a new international film production anddistribution company when his UIP contract is finished.

Till noted thathe thinks the international marketplace could handle the addition of such acompany in 2007 or beyond. "I felt that Signpost [his previous studio] had achance, and I think it is easier now than then," he said. But he was adamantthat he has no concrete plans in the works as of yet. "I'm not exploring that,I'm not talking to anyone, it's all very premature," he said.

"The Guardian rang meand asked me about various options, and I was only reacting to their questions.It wasn't me trying to launch something," Till clarified. TheGuardian article concentrates on thepotential for Till to launch another production and distribution company, buthe also noted that he also acknowledged other options as well. "They asked meif I would take a job with another company if one was offered to me, and I saidabsolutely if the right job came along," the industry veteran said.

Before joining UIP at the end of 2002, Till raninternational production and distribution company Signpost Films, whichproduced Bulletproof Monk and alsohelped develop films including The House of Sand and Fog. Signpost operated for about 15 months. Before that,he served as president of Universal Pictures International and also of Polygram Filmed Entertainment.

"My horizon is committed to UIP right now," Till said."Whatever my future is, that's a long way off. Mygenuine commitment is to work with UIP on the exciting releases we have untilthe end of 2006, such as The Constant Gardener and King Kong," hesaid.

Paramount and Universal, partners in the internationaldistribution venture UIP, announced on September 6 that they'd restructure UIPat the end of 2006, with each studio starting its own internationaldistribution business and taking over UIP operations in specific countries.UIP, however, will still exist after the end of 2006, when it will be scaledback to handle 20 territories (down from its current 35). When that deal wasannounced, Till told ScreenDaily.com that he was "undercontract for a reasonable period of time" with UIP and wanted to stay focusedon the company's business during the 17-month transition period.