Samuel Hadida

{{Infobox person

| name = Samuel Hadida

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1953|12|17}}

| birth_place = Casablanca, Morocco

| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|11|26|1953|12|17|df=y}}

| death_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S

}}

Samuel Hadida (17 December 1953 – 26 November 2018) was a Moroccan-born French film producer.

Early life

Hadida was born in Casablanca, Morocco.

Career

In 1978, he co-founded the company Metropolitan Filmexport with his brother Victor. The company later became a successful independent distributor of films in the French-speaking world. Metropolitan Filmexport is the current French distributor for films by Lionsgate and, formerly, New Line Cinema (Warner Bros. now releases New Line films).{{cite web|last1=Keslassy|first1=Elsa|title=Metropolitan FilmExport at 35: Hadida Brothers Build France Distributor Into Major Indie Player|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/spotlight/metropolitan-filmexport-at-25-hadida-brothers-build-france-distributor-into-major-indie-player-1201188629/|website=Variety|date=May 22, 2014|access-date=31 July 2017}}

In 1990, Hadida formed a new company, Davis Films. Since 1993, the company has produced more than thirty Hollywood films, with True Romance being the first.

Though Hadida contributed to the film industry over many decades, his work in spearheading the Resident Evil film franchise is what he is best known for. When Hadida learned the project was struggling, he reached out Constantin Film and offered a 50/50 venture deal.{{cite web|last1=Keslassy|first1=Elsa|title=French Producer Plays a Hand in 'Resident Evil's' Giant Success|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/spotlight/samuel-hadida-producer-resident-evil-1201943556/|website=Variety|date=December 16, 2016|access-date=31 July 2017}} This project, as well as his work with the film adaptation of Silent Hill, has contributed to his recognition within the realm of video game adaptations.{{cite web|last1=Gaudiosi|first1=John|title=Resident Evil And Silent Hill Producer Samuel Hadida Talks Wolfenstein And Onimusha Movies|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/11/02/resident-evil-and-silent-hill-producer-samuel-hadida-talks-wolfenstein-and-onimusha-movies/#1e6b783f535d|website=Forbes|access-date=31 July 2017}}

Death

Hadida died at the UCLA Santa Monica Hospital after a short illness.{{cite web|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Samuel Hadida, Producer on 'Resident Evil' and 'True Romance,' Dies at 64|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/markets-festivals/samuel-hadida-dead-dies-resident-evil-1203037845/|website=Variety|date=November 27, 2018|access-date=10 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/samuel-hadida-dies-industry-reactions-1202510165/|title=Industry Mourns Samuel Hadida, Pays Tribute to Distributor/Producer's Passion|date=November 28, 2018}}

Controversy

In 2011, Davis Films signed an agreement to create a film adaptation of the book series House of Night.{{cite web|last1=Harris|first1=Scott|title='House of Night' to be Millionth Vampire Movie of the Decade|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2808234/house-of-night-movie-adaptation/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801032251/http://www.mtv.com/news/2808234/house-of-night-movie-adaptation/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2017|website=MTV News|publisher=MTV|access-date=31 July 2017}} Hadida and his company did not follow through on producing the film, yet retained the rights until 2020. This upset the series' fanbase, causing tension between Hadida and the series' authors, P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast.{{cite web|title=Q: When will House of Night be a movie or TV series?|url=https://www.pccastauthor.com/blog/houseofnightmovie|website=PC Cast|access-date=31 July 2017}}