Mancuso Jr. reups at MGM for 5 years
Says next project is supernatural thriller to be directed by Wainright
"Frank is one of a certain group of producers who can deliver two or three pictures a year of the kind we need," said MGM production president Michael Nathanson. Mancuso's "Species 2," sequel to his 1995 sci-fi hit "Species," was one of the first films that Nathanson greenlighted when he took over production at MGM last year.
Mancuso said his next planned project will be a supernatural thriller to be directed by Rupert Wainwright.
Mancuso and MGM execs said the producer would likely deliver between two and five pictures per year across all three labels within Leo's pride: MGM, UA and newly formed specialty unit Goldwyn Films.
"I feel like I have the choice to make a small $6 million movie, or a big studio movie, and that represents a freedom I wanted," said Mancuso. In addition to shooting Robert DeNiro starrer "Ronin" for UA, Mancuso is in post-production on "Species 2," slated for June release.
"Frank is one of those producers with the ability to produce larger-budgeted studio films as well as more modestly budgeted independent films," said Gerry Rich, president of worldwide marketing for MGM, and co-chief of the studio's Goldwyn banner.
The new agreement replaces Mancuso's previous production contract with MGM, according to a studio spokesman, and will run through 2003.
