Peter Craig, Bryan Unkeless Team to Launch Film and TV Banner ‘Night Owl’ (Exclusive)

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As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but be thrilled at the latest development in Hollywood. The formation of Night Owl Productions by Peter Craig and Bryan Unkeless is like witnessing two gaming legends team up to create an epic RPG.

Screenwriter Peter Craig, who is working on the upcoming sequel to “Gladiator” titled “Gladiator II“, and producer Bryan Unkeless, recognized for movies like “I, Tonya ” and “Project Power“, have joined forces to establish a film and television production company named Night Owl.

Starting a business in today’s competitive Hollywood isn’t an easy feat, but these two individuals boast impressive resumes, and they’ve got numerous productions in various stages of development.

The book “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt, a widely acclaimed novel, has been adapted and is currently being developed for Netflix. Olivia Newman, known for directing the film “Where the Crawdads Sing”, is attached to direct, while Sally Field, who happens to be Craig’s mother in real life, is set to star in the adaptation. (Did you know that Craig is Sally Field’s son?)

There exists a crime drama series titled “Tropical Underworld,” which is established in the scenic backdrop of Hawaii. This captivating series is inspired by an article penned by Chris Pomorski for Bloomberg. In a fierce bidding competition, the rights to this project were acquired by Fifth Season, successfully outbidding notable companies such as A24, FX, Apple, and MRC. Craig will handle the writing duties, while Night Owl takes on production responsibilities.

MRC might have missed out on “Tropical Underworld,” but they successfully secured “Head Count,” an original script pilot penned by Craig, which Night Owl Productions will bring to life. This acquisition subtly paved the way for MRC to establish a first-look TV deal with Night Owl. “Head Count” is planned as a humorously grim crime series that revolves around a wedding planner who coordinates events for some of the world’s most merciless individuals.

The ongoing projects highlight Night Owl’s aspirations, efficiency, and the scope they aim to expand across.

Craig expressed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he had daydreamed about founding a business that not only focused on action stories featuring characters, but also provided a safe environment for writers and filmmakers to experiment and innovate without fear of reprisal.

Unkeless agreed, saying, “Our goal is to create pulse-pounding action-thrillers and unique genre films that captivate audiences in an unexpected way. We aim to collaborate with fellow artists on stories we’re passionate about, then fight tirelessly to bring those stories to life. And above all, we want this journey to be enjoyable!

For over a decade, these two individuals have been close friends, having crossed paths for the first time during the filming of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2. Notably, Craig, who gained recognition as one of the writers on the successful films Unkeless, played a significant role in discovering Suzanne Collins’ original book and driving its development at Color Force, serving as a co-producer for these movies.

Craig, a prominent screenwriter in Hollywood, mentioned that over the past few years, we’ve been working together increasingly often, and eventually, an opportunity presented itself that we couldn’t resist. He is known for his work on films such as Ben Affleck’s crime thriller “The Town”, Matt Reeve’s “The Batman”, and “Top Gun: Maverick”, which brought him an Oscar nomination in the category of best adapted screenplay.

Excited Unkeless expressed his admiration for his partner saying, ‘He’s a dependable individual, a creative soul who champions and safeguards fellow artists and their ideas, making him an ideal companion when it comes to constructing a business together.’

I’m deeply immersed in the post-production phase of my inaugural TV endeavor, the gripping crime drama titled “Sinking Spring.” As its creator and showrunner, I have the privilege to collaborate with the renowned Ridley Scott, who will direct the pilot episode for Apple TV+.

Prior to now, Unkeless was the head of Clubhouse Pictures, a productive film studio that produced the Academy Award-winning drama “I, Tonya“, featuring Margot Robbie, along with various genre films. Notable titles under their belt include the revenge thriller “Kate“, starring Mary-Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson, the action fantasy movie “Bright“, starring Will Smith, the superpower thriller “Project Power“, featuring Jamie Foxx, and the DC film “Birds of Prey“, headlined by Robbie.

Night Owl, also known as [Artist Name], is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Untitled Entertainment. Meanwhile, Craig has an additional representation at Hansen Jacobson, and Unkeless is represented by Felker Toczek & Irby.

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2024-10-29 00:25