Captain Phillips producer Michael De Luca has been named president of production at Columbia Pictures, formalising a successful union spanning a number of years.
De Luca, who prior to Captain Phillips produced The Social Network, Moneyball, the Ghost Rider franchise and 21 for the studio, will partner with Hannah Minghella to oversee development and production.
De Luca will report to Columba Pictures president Doug Belgrad, who will continue to oversee Columbia’s slate of films and creative staff and expands his role to encompass duties across the Sony Pictures Entertainment motion picture group.
De Luca’s Michael De Luca Productions has had a production and development deal with Columbia Pictures since it launched in March 2004.
Prior to establishing Michael De Luca Productions, De Luca held the post of head of production at DreamWorks and before that served seven years as president and COO of New Line Productions.
“Mike has worked with us on several of our highest-quality and most commercial recent films, and he’s nurtured many of our generation’s most important film-makers,” said Belgrad.
“Likewise, Hannah is a tremendous creative executive who has made major contributions to our entire slate, in particular our key Spider-Man and Jump Street franchises. Together, Hannah and Mike will be a formidable team.”
“My years as a producer with Columbia have been the happiest of my life, and I consider Amy [Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment motion picture group], Doug and Hannah to be three of the best and most talented executives working today,” said De Luca. “I’m honoured to be formalising my relationship with the studio and look forward to working with the team to reach new heights.”
“I always admired Doug and Matt Tolmach’s partnership when they ran production together at Columbia,” said Minghella. “Mike and I already have an excellent relationship, and I look forward to that evolving into a similarly successful partnership.”
“Doug’s role has continued to evolve over the past few years, so I am pleased we will continue to benefit from his extraordinary business and creative expertise,” said Pascal. “I am confident this leadership team will help guide our company to further success, and I want to congratulate Doug and Mike on their new roles.”
De Luca is currently in production on Universal and Focus Features’ 50 Shades Of Grey and recently wrapped production on Universal’s Dracula Untold and will see both projects through to completion.
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