Walden Media has set up a joint venture with Fox FilmedEntertainment (FFE) to release family pictures that encompasses all of Walden'sfuture slate and current and new work from Fox.

A dedicated marketing, publicity and promotions team at the as-yet-unnamedcompany will work on the titles, which initially include Mr Magorium'sWonder Emporium, TheDark Is Rising, and CityOf Ember.

Walden will remain independent and production and developmentstaff will be unaffected. The company will continue to oversee the traditionalgrassroots outreach programmes that accompany its releases.

Fox will get first look privileges on future projects fromWalden's sister company under the Anschutz Film Group umbrella, Bristol Bay Productions.

The deal does not apply to pictures that already have distributiondeals in place with other studios, namely The Chronicles Of Narnia franchise at Disney, Charlotte's Web at Paramount, How To Eat Fried Worms and Journey To The Centre Of TheEarth at New Line, and BridgeTo Terabithia at Disney.

"G and PG-rated pictures make up 10% of films released, butthey dominate the marketplace with almost 30% of the gross," FFE chairmen andchief executive officers Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman said.

"It's a great business to be in - and this venture is agreat fit between our two companies."

"This is the next step in the evolution of Walden Media andAnschutz Film Group," Anschutz Film Group chief executive officer DavidWeil and Walden Media chief executive officer Cary Granat added.

"Fox is a great studio, and this joint venture allows us tocreate a new family film label together that complements Fox's existingstrengths, and gives our upcoming slate of franchises and films a greathome."

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