Warner Bros. Discovery has signed a deal with studio veteran Jack Nguyen to premiere its films in Asia. The deal, announced on Monday through Nguyen’s start-up production company Joat Films, will focus on Asian remakes of Warner Bros. English-language library titles. The two partners said their first project under the deal will be a Korean remake of the 2015 comedy-drama intern.
Nguyen spent 30 years at Warner Bros., where he oversaw local-language film efforts primarily in Asia and Latin America and led entry into China, India, Japan and South Korea. During his tenure, he oversaw the Japanese film production operations Letters from Iwo Jimathis Rurouni Kenshin franchise, and yurusarezemonoa remake of Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winner unforgivable. In South Korea, Warner Bros. produced and distributed the blockbuster shadow ageSouth Korea submits 2017 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, witchand other popular works.
Jack Nguyen.
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Under the deal, Nguyen will present Asia-focused film projects to Warner Bros. while co-producing with local partners in various markets across Asia Pacific, including South Korea and India.
Kurt Rieder, WBD Senior Vice President and Head of Theatrical Distribution Asia Pacific, said: “Jake is an industry veteran with a knowledge of the filmmaking business across Asia that is second to none. The region has strong interest in remaking popular Hollywood stories. We look forward to working with Jack to bring these stories to life through a new local lens.
Nguyen added: “It’s no surprise that I have a huge amount of respect and loyalty to Warner Bros. after spending the majority of my career there. I’m honored to be entrusted with the use of some of their valuable intellectual property rights with these countries. The best filmmakers come together to produce high-quality local-language remakes. Additionally, I want to showcase talented new filmmakers by finding “diamonds in the rough” projects that deserve the attention of the world stage. I’m excited to begin this next chapter with one of Hollywood’s most renowned studios.
