Indie distribution darling Neon is said to be eyeing a launch in the U.K.
According to sources, the U.S company — which also has an international sales operation — is considering planting a flag across the Atlantic, with former Studiocanal U.K. boss Danny Perkins reportedly consulting for them about a potential U.K. operation.
Neon, renowned for its streak of seven Palme d’Or winners (including this year’s Fjord) and backing Oscar best picture winners such as “Anora” and “Parasite,” has recently begun include U.K. rights in it acquisitions deals alongside North America. Cannes titles “Fjord,” “Sheep in the Box” and “Hope” were all acquired for the U.S., U.K. and Australia, with local distribution partners sourced (Picturehouse will release “Fjord” and “Sheep in the Box” in the U.K.). Neon also has the U.K. rights for “Artificial,” Luca Guadagnino’s film about Sam Altman and OpenAI that it acquired after it was controversially dropped by Amazon.
Entering the U.K distribution market is no easy — or inexpensive — feat, as numerous others can attest to. But Neon’s slate of both award winning titles and more commercial fare could set it up for success. “Anora” made $3.7 million in the local box office, while “Parasite” grossed more than $15 million. The U.K. was, by some margin, the second most successful market after the U.S. for Neon’s horror hit “Longlegs,” where it made $10.4 million.
A U.K. industry veteran, Perkins co-founded Optimum Releasing before it was acquired by Studiocanal, where he spent a decade as its U.K. head, helping oversee releases such as “Attack the Block,” “Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy” and “The Imitation Game,” and helping launch the hugely successful “Paddington” franchise. He left in 2018 to set up the Elysian Film Group, through which he produced recent releases “The Magic Faraway Tree” and “Fackham Hall.” “The Magic Faraway Tree,” which launches in the U.S. next month through Vertical, was a hit on home soil, earning more than $20 million.
However, Perkins also knows only too well the deep complexities of distribution in the U.K., with Elysian Film Group’s distribution arm having gone into liquidation earlier this year.
Variety‘s sister publication Deadline first reported the news about Neon eyeing a U.K. launch.
Variety has reached out to Neon and Perkins
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