Icon shifts shingle to Par
Gibson may helm, star in pix
The production company has inked a three-year, multipicture first-look deal with Par, under which Icon will co-finance pictures with the studio. Gibson is also expected to star in at least one film for Paramount.
For the past three years, Icon has had concurrent deals with both Warner Bros. and Paramount. Under that unusual arrangement, Icon made "187" and "Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina" for Warner Bros., as well as the Gibson starrer "Payback," which will be released domestically by Paramount and overseas by Warner Bros.
Separate from that deal, Icon also co-financed Par's "Fairy Tale: A True Story."
"We're really excited about this," said Sherry Lansing, Par chairman, "We've had a wonderful relationship, starting with 'Braveheart' and most recently with 'Payback.' " Lansing added that she hoped Gibson would also direct films for Par.
The studio also will look to Icon to come in as a co-financing partner on other Par-owned productions. Icon execs could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, Icon still has a number of projects in development at Warner Bros.
"We've made many films with Mel Gibson as an actor and Icon as a producer, and we look forward to continuing that relationship in the future," said Warner Bros. chairman and co-CEO Terry Semel. "We intend to do as many pictures with him in the future as we have in the past."
Gibson won best directing and motion picture Oscars for 1995's "Braveheart," which was co-produced and distributed domestically by Paramount.
His other credits include "Mad Max," "Gallipoli," "The Year of Living Dangerously," "The Road Warrior," the "Lethal Weapon" series, "Maverick," "Conspiracy Theory" and "Ransom." His most recent screen appearance was last summer's "Lethal Weapon 4."
Davey, who began his association with Gibson by supervising his business affairs in Australia, formed Icon with Gibson in 1988. His producing credits include Gibson's directing debut, "The Man Without A Face," "Maverick," "Immortal Beloved" and "Airborne." He and Gibson produced "Braveheart," for which they shared the best picture Oscar.
