British theatre producer John Gore has acquired the iconic Hammer Films and Studios.
Gore, the twenty-time Tony-winning, Emmy and Olivier-winning British entertainment producer is renowned for his live theatre company the John Gore Organisation which owns Broadway.com and Broadway Across America. Gore will lead a new team as Chairman and C.E.O.
Hammer Films and Studios has held its iconic status in the film industry and made an indelible mark on British and global cinema since it was founded in 1934. The company is synonymous with horror, after defining the genre in Britain with classics such as ‘Dracula,’ ‘The Curse of Frankenstein’ and ‘The Mummy,’ which made stars of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing while spawning numerous sequels widely adored by audiences across the globe. It also produced such classics as ‘One Million Years B.C.’ starring Raquel Welch and ‘She’ starring Ursula Andress. Although famous for horror it had great success across all genres and achieved the rare cross-over success from film to TV and vice versa.
A new slate of films and projects will be unveiled in the coming months, but the first film of the new incarnation of the studio to be released is ‘Doctor Jekyll,’ starring Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers, directed by Joe Stephenson. It is due for a cinema release later this year.
John Gore said of the acquisition “Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve been enchanted by the magic of Hammer Films. Its stories, its characters and its unique place in British heritage and cinema have been a source of inspiration and wonder. Today, as I stand at the helm of this iconic studio, my commitment is twofold: to celebrate and preserve the unmatched legacy of Hammer and to usher in a new era of storytelling that captivates audiences worldwide. With significant investment and a fresh creative vision, we will ensure that the spirit of Hammer not only endures but thrives in the modern age.”
