Rogue Pictures

{{short description|American film production company}}

{{distinguish|text=the British company Rogue Films}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Rogue

| logo = File:Rogue Logo.jpg

| logo_size = 250

| type = Subsidiary

| founder = Matt Wall
Patrick Gunn

| predecessor =

| founded = {{start date and age|1998|04|02}}

| defunct =

| fate =

| industry = Motion picture

| key_people = Ryan Kavanaugh (president)

| owner = UltraV Holdings{{Cite web |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn C. |date=2018-08-16 |title=Bankruptcy Court OKs Sale Of Relativity Media To UltraV Holdings |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/relativity-media-sale-bankruptcy-court-approves-ultrav-holdings-1202446713/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

| parent = {{unbulleted list|October Films (1998–2000)|Focus Features (2004–2008)|Relativity Media (2009–2021)}}

| location_city = Universal City, California

| location_country = United States

| location =

| homepage =

}}

Rogue (originally Rogue Pictures) is an American independent production company founded in 1998 by Matt Wall and Patrick Gunn, originally started off as a genre film label of the Universal-affiliated independent film studio October Films and was based in Universal City, California. It was known to produce action, non-action, thriller, and horror films.

It was owned by October Films from 1998 to 1999, after which it was merged with Gramercy Pictures to form USA Films until its original defunct year of 2000. In 2004, Rogue was revived by Focus Features, which retained the studio until 2009, when it was acquired by Relativity Media. In June 2012, Rogue and Relativity Media sold 30 of their films to Manchester Library Company,[http://www.copyright.gov/ US Copyright Office] Document No V3617D065 2012-06-12 which was acquired by Vine Alternative Investments in April 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/vine-alternative-investments-manchester-film-library-the-fighter-limitless-1202078374/|title=New Village Roadshow Co-Owner Vine Acquires Manchester Film Library|first1=Patrick|last1=Hipes|date=April 27, 2017}}

History

= Original October Films era (1998–2000) =

On April 2, 1998, Rogue Pictures was formed as a division of the Universal Pictures' independent film label October Films, led by Patrick Gunn and Matt Wall, in order to release genre films to compete with Miramax's Dimension Films label. Rogue's theatrical releases, much in the same manner like Dimension did, would be handled by its parent company October Films, with video and television sales handled by October Films' parent company Universal, and all foreign sales would be handled by fellow Universal subsidiary Good Machine.{{Cite web|last=Roman|first=Monica|date=1998-04-03|title=Rogue of October|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/rogue-of-october-1117469445/|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

One of the first film projects/script acquisitions greenlit by Rogue was the film Cherry Falls, while the first acquisition by October via the Rogue label was the film Orgazmo, although PolyGram Video handled the video rights of the film.{{Cite web|last=Roman|first=Monica|date=1998-04-03|title=Rogue of October|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/rogue-of-october-1117469445/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}} The genre's predecessor was the October Films-affiliated production label Mad Dog Pictures, which was designed to release genre films.{{Cite web|last=Frook|first=John Evan|date=1993-04-08|title=October buys rights to 'Thrill'|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/october-buys-rights-to-thrill-105770/|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Variety|language=en-US}} The Rogue name was dropped in 2000 after October Films was absorbed into USA Films following the merger with Gramercy Pictures.{{Cite web|last=Peers|first=Martin|date=1999-03-22|title=Diller sez he ought to be back in pic biz|url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/diller-sez-he-ought-to-be-back-in-pic-biz-1117492526/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

= Focus Features/Universal era (2004–2008) =

In 2004, the name and branding was revived as part of the Universal-owned Focus Features, with a goal of "high-quality suspense, action, thriller and urban features with mainstream appeal and franchise potential".{{cite journal | last=Mohr | first=Ian | title=Uni's Focus reveals Rogue plan | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=March 25, 2004 }} The revived Rogue Pictures would be led by the same team who led the Focus Features group, rather than having its own dedicated staff.{{Cite web|last=Rooney|first=David|date=2004-03-25|title=Focus widens lens with Rogue|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/features/focus-widens-lens-with-rogue-1117902220/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

In 2005, Universal expanded the company's operations to become a stand-alone division with a new goal of releasing ten films annually.{{cite journal | last=Kilday | first=Gregg | title=Uni's Rogue given solo spot | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=May 19, 2005 }} Later that year, Universal and Rogue signed a deal with newly formed Intrepid Pictures to produce, co-finance, and distribute films for five years.{{cite journal | last=Goldstein | first=Gregg | title=Intrepid makes Rogue films | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=December 16, 2005 }} In 2007, distribution and marketing of Rogue Pictures films were moved to Universal in company-wide shifts to accommodate Focus Features, putting Rogue Pictures under greater control of the parent company.{{cite journal|last=Goldstein|first=Gregg|date=October 16, 2007|title=New Focus has Rogue Pictures under Universal|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-focus-has-rogue-pictures-152649|journal=The Hollywood Reporter}}

= Relativity Media and independent company era (2008–2016) =

File:Rogue Pictures logo.jpg

In 2008, Relativity Media approached Universal about buying the company, a move described in the entertainment media as "bold."{{cite journal|last=Zeitchik|first=Steven|date=October 23, 2008|title=Bold gambit by Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bold-gambit-by-relativitys-ryan-121679|journal=The Hollywood Reporter}} The following year, Relativity completed acquisition of the company. At the time of purchase, Rogue Pictures had more than two dozen titles in its library, four upcoming films, and more than thirty projects in development.{{cite journal | last=Kit | first=Borys | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7fcfe6ddd3b5d6c23c7d5bc685b4e12d | title=Relativity completes Rogue acquisition | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=January 4, 2009 | access-date=January 4, 2009 }} This deal was part of Relativity Media reupping its agreement with Universal Pictures that would extend until 2015, and Universal would retain a distribution stake in future Rogue films.{{Cite web|last=Siegel|first=Tatiana|date=2009-01-04|title=Relativity reels in Rogue|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/relativity-reels-in-rogue-1117997927/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}} On May 7, 2009, Relativity decided to turn the Rogue branding into a consumer brand that was used by the studio.{{Cite web|last=Graser|first=Marc|date=2009-05-07|title=Relativity Media rolls dice on Rogue|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/relativity-media-rolls-dice-on-rogue-1118003313/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

Films

class="wikitable sortable"
Title

! Release Date

! Notes

colspan="3"| Division of October Films / Universal Pictures
align="right"| OrgazmoOctober 23, 1998U.S. distribution only; produced by MDP Worldwide and Kuzui Enterprises
align="right"| Thick as ThievesJanuary 28, 1999distribution only; rights now owned by Samuel Goldwyn Films
align="right"| Trippin'May 12, 1999distribution only; produced by Beacon Pictures
align="right"| Boricua's BondJune 21, 2000distributed by USA Films
align="right"| Cherry FallsOctober 20, 2000co-production with Industry Entertainment and Fresh Produce Company; distributed by USA Films
colspan="3"| Subsidiary of Focus Features
align="right"| Shaun of the DeadSeptember 24, 2004North American distribution only; produced by StudioCanal, Working Title Films and Big Talk Productions; international distribution handled by Universal Pictures
align="right"| Seed of ChuckyNovember 12, 2004co-production with David Kirschner Productions and La Sienega Productions
align="right"| Assault on Precinct 13January 19, 2005co-production with Why Not Productions, Liaison Films and Biscayne Pictures
align="right"| UnleashedMay 13, 2005North American distribution only; produced by EuropaCorp, Danny the Dog, Ltd., TF1 Films, Qian Yang International, Current Entertainment and Canal+
align="right"| Cry WolfSeptember 16, 2005co-production with Hypnotic
align="right"| House of VoicesOctober 18, 2005North American distribution only
align="right"| Dave Chappelle's Block PartyMarch 3, 2006distribution only; produced by Bob Yari Productions, Pilot Boy, Kabuki Brothers Films and Partizan Films
align="right"| Waist DeepJune 23, 2006co-production with Intrepid Pictures, Radar Pictures and RSVP Productions
align="right"| FearlessSeptember 22, 2006North American distribution only; produced by Hero China International
align="right"| The ReturnNovember 10, 2006co-production with Intrepid Pictures, Raygun and Biscayne Pictures
align="right"| AlteredDecember 19, 2006rowspan="2" |direct-to-video
align="right"| American Pie Presents: The Naked MileDecember 19, 2006
align="right"| The HitcherJanuary 19, 2007co-production with Intrepid Pictures and Platinum Dunes
align="right"| Hot FuzzApril 20, 2007North American distribution only; produced by StudioCanal, Working Title Films and Big Talk Productions; international distribution handled by Universal Pictures
align="right"| Balls of FuryAugust 29, 2007co-production with Intrepid Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment
align="right"| American Pie Presents: Beta HouseDecember 26, 2007direct-to-video
align="right"| DoomsdayMarch 14, 2008co-production with Intrepid Pictures, Crystal Sky Pictures and Scion Films
align="right"| The StrangersMay 30, 2008co-production with Intrepid Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment and Mandate Pictures
colspan="3"| Subsidiary of Relativity Media
align="right"| The UnbornJanuary 9, 2009co-production with Universal Pictures, Platinum Dunes and Phantom Four Films
align="right"| The Last House on the LeftMarch 13, 2009co-production with Universal Pictures, Craven/Maddalena Films, Crystal Lake Entertainment, Scion Films and Midnight Entertainment
align="right"| FightingApril 24, 2009co-production with Universal Pictures, and Misher Films
align="right"| A Perfect GetawayAugust 7, 2009co-production with QED International
align="right"| MacGruberMay 21, 2010co-production with Universal Pictures, and Michaels/Goldwyn
align="right"| CatfishSeptember 17, 2010
align="right"| My Soul to TakeOctober 8, 2010co-production with Corvus Corax
align="right"| SkylineNovember 12, 2010co-production with Hydraulx Entertainment, Transmission and Rat Entertainment
align="right"| The Warrior's WayDecember 3, 2010North American distribution only; produced by Boram Entertainment
align="right"| Season of the WitchJanuary 7, 2011co-production with Atlas Entertainment
align="right"| Take Me Home TonightMarch 4, 2011co-production with Imagine Entertainment; distributed by Relativity Media in the United States and Universal Pictures internationally
align="right"| LimitlessMarch 18, 2011co-production with Virgin Produced
align="right"| Cost of a SoulMay 20, 2011
align="right"| Shark NightSeptember 2, 2011U.S. distribution only; produced by Incentive Filmed Entertainment, Sierra Pictures, Next Entertainment and Silverwood Films
align="right"| Movie 43January 25, 2013co-production with Virgin Produced, GreeneStreet Films and Charles B. Wessler Entertainment
align="right"| The Disappointments RoomSeptember 9, 2016co-production with Los Angeles Media Fund, Media Talent Group and Demarest
colspan="3"| Independent company
align="right"| The Strangers: Prey at NightMarch 9, 2018distributed by Aviron Pictures
colspan="3"| Subsidiary of Relativity Media
align="right"| VioletOctober 29, 2021

References