Fox Atomic Explained

Fox Atomic
Fate:Shut down
Type:Label
Successors:Library:
20th Century Studios
Searchlight Pictures
Parent:20th Century Fox
Divisions:Fox Atomic Digital
Fox Atomic Comics
Industry:Entertainment
Products:Motion pictures

Fox Atomic was a short-lived production and distribution label of film studios 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures created in 2006 to generate comedy and genre films.[1]

In 2008, following overall disappointing results, Fox Atomic scaled back its production operations and shut down all marketing divisions.[2] In 2009, the label was shut down, with films in development transferred to other Fox labels.[1]

All of the Fox Atomic film library are now owned by The Walt Disney Company via Walt Disney Studios, following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox on March 20, 2019.

History

In late 2006, Fox Atomic was started up as a label of 20th Century Fox.[3] under Fox Searchlight head Peter Rice and COO John Hegeman[4] as a sibling production division under Fox Filmed Entertainment. In early 2008, Atomic's marketing unit was transferred to Fox Searchlight and 20th Century Fox, when Hegeman moved to New Regency Productions. Debbie Liebling became president. After two middling successes and falling short with other films, the unit was shut down in April 2009. The remaining films under the Atomic label in production and post-productions were transferred to 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight with Liebling overseeing them.[4]

Films

TitleRelease Date
Turistas December 1, 2006
The Hills Have Eyes 2 March 23, 2007
28 Weeks Later May 11, 2007
The Comebacks October 19, 2007
The Rocker August 20, 2008
Miss March March 6, 2009
12 Rounds March 27, 2009

Films in production at shutting down and transferred to other Fox units

Canceled projects

In 2006, it was announced that Fox Atomic was going to make one of their launching movies a remake of the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds. After two weeks of filming, an executive at Fox Atomic viewed the film's dailies and made the decision to stop production of the film.[5] [6] The film's cancellation was also due to potential filming location Emory University refusing to lend its campus to the production.[7]

Fox Atomic Comics

Fox Atomic Comics was formed in late 2006 as the graphic novel publishing arm of Fox Atomic. In partnership with publisher (and corporate sibling) HarperCollins, Fox Atomic Comics produced and distributed graphic novels tied to Fox Atomic theatrical releases as well as original content. It closed, along with Fox Atomic, in 2009.

The editor-in-chief of Fox Atomic Comics was R. Eric Lieb.

All of the Fox Atomic Comics library are now owned by The Walt Disney Company, following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox on March 20, 2019.

Graphic novels

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fleming . Michael . Fox folding Atomic label - Entertainment News, Film News, Media . Variety . 2009-04-19 . 2012-08-02.
  2. Web site: Finke . Nikki . Fox Atomic's Marketing Operations Fold - Deadline.com . Deadlinehollywooddaily.com . 2008-01-11 . 2012-08-02.
  3. News: Walsh . Mark . July 20, 2006 . Fox Atomic Unveils Broadband Site . en . Online Media Daily . Media Post . April 1, 2022.
  4. News: Kilday . Gregg . Fernandez . Jay A. . April 20, 2009 . Fox shutting down youth-focused film unit . The Hollywood Reporter . Reuters . April 1, 2022.
  5. News: Revenge Of The Nerds Remake Canceled . World Entertainment News Network . 2006-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20071104010031/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/11/23/revenge_of_the_nerds_remake_canceled/. 2007-11-04 .
  6. News: LaPorte. Nicole. Atomic blast to ‘Nerds’. 2015-08-15. Variety. 2006-11-21.
  7. News: Fox Atomic Kills "Nerds" Remake . TMZ . 2006-11-21 .