EXCLUSIVE: John Wick outfit Thunder Road and Untravelled Worlds, the production company owned by billionaire entrepreneur Steve Klinsky, have formed a joint venture to finance development on a slate of new films, which they will also partner in producing.
The initial phase of the partnership includes a fully committed fund in the multiple millions of dollars that will target both scripts and IP. The partners are describing it as “one of the most robust development pots outside of the studio system”.
The partnership already comprises several new projects, including:
– The Surgeon, on sale at Cannes by Patrick Wachsberger and 193, starring Michelle Yeoh, written and to be directed by Indie Spirit winner Roshan Sethi, which will shoot in mid-August.
– Perdition, a survival thriller set during World War 2, written and to be directed by Henry Dunham;
– The Nest, a high stakes actioner by Aaron Benjamin that follows an elite sniper who becomes ensnared in a terrorist attempt to target a major sporting event, which is in the process of being packaged with a director and cast;
– Moscow X, a contemporary espionage film based on the best-selling novel by David McCloskey, which will be adapted by Guy Bolton;
– Ghosting, a supernatural thriller written by Brian DeCubellis and K.S. Bruce and to be directed by Brian DeCubellis, which is now casting;
– The Confidence Men, based on the book by Margalit Fox, whose screenplay was adapted by Jez Scharf (Bodkin), and which is currently targeting a director.
The partnership was brokered by CAA.
Untravelled Worlds was set up by Klinsky a decade ago. In 2016, it produced the feature Manhattan Night, directed by Brian Decubellis and starring two time Oscar winner Adrien Brody and Yvonne Strahovski. In 2021, it produced the feature Trust, starring Victoria Justice, Matt Daddario, Kat McNamara and Lucien Laviscount, which performed well on Netflix.
Klinsky’s production arm is also currently working with Studio Canal/Canal+ on another significant film development project. He founded the $55BN (assets) investment firm New Mountain Capital in 1999. The company specializes in private equity, private credit and real estate.
“The most valuable asset you can have in the film business is a great script – but it’s never been harder to fund the development of one,” said John Wick and Sicario producer Basil Iwanyk, founder of Thunder Road. “We are thrilled to have found a partner in Untravelled Worlds who is as committed as we are to building projects with the filmmakers that we have had such great relationships with over the years, as well as supporting the emerging generation behind them.”
“Thunder Road – founded and led by Basil Iwanyk with Erica Lee – is one of the truly great independent production houses, famous for projects like John Wick films and Sicario“, said Steve Klinsky, founder of Untravelled Worlds.
“Untravelled Worlds has had some notable success on our own, but working with Thunder Road will allow us to rise to a whole new level. Untravelled Worlds is honored and proud to be working hand in hand with Thunder Road, both financially and creatively, on new projects now.”
