Warner Bros and AlconEntertainment have signed a new agreement continuing their eight-yearrelationship under which Warner Bros distributes features developed andfinanced by Alcon.

The new deal will include a minimum of six pictures over thenext three years, starting with Richard Donner'sthriller 16 Blocks starring BruceWillis, and Neil LaBute's remake of The Wicker Man, which stars NicolasCage.

Alcon acquired distribution rightsto both titles from Millennium Films and Emmett/FurlaFilms with the participation of Equity Pictures. In addition the partners willjointly finance certain projects.

Alcon is developing a slate set tobegin production early this year. The titles are a second world war drama Brothers In Arms to be directed by Denzel Washington; the dark romantic comedy The Whole Pemberton Thing starring RobinWilliams and directed by Ken Kwapis; and alive-action/CGI adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Hong KongPhooey.

"We've had an excellent relationship with Andrew,Broderick and the rest of the Alcon team over theyears and we're glad to be extending it into the future with this newagreement," Warner Bros president and chief operating officer and AlanHorn said.

"Alan and the entire Warner Bros team have been loyalpartners for Alcon and we are deeply appreciative fortheir continued support," Alcon co-founders andco-presidents Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosoveadded.

"The fundamental benefit of the new arrangement is thatit will allow Alcon to increase the pace of itsproduction and acquisition activities, thereby giving us the opportunity tomore effectively grow our business."

The partners previously teamed up on Racing Stripes, Insomnia and The Sisterhood Of TheTravelling Pants.