The legendary British horror label Hammer Films has teamed up with the UK’s Network Distributing to form a new company called Hammer Studios Ltd., which will “invest substantially both in restoration and new production development from both its owned and newly created IP”, Variety reports. Hammer Studios will be headed up by Hammer CEO Simon Oakes, Network’s managing director Tim Beddows, and Network’s financial director Jonathan Lack.
Network Distributing has been “mining the vaults of TV companies and film studios since 1997, unearthing cult programs and films and making them available on home video and digital formats”. The company has restored Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The Prisoner, and “hundreds of British films released under The British Film imprint”. They have also worked with the likes of ITV, BBC, ITC, Fremantle, Studiocanal, and others for more than 3000 releases.
Now that Network has access to the Hammer library through the Hammer Studios deal, the plan is for them to restore all of the classic Hammer movies.
Beddows had this to say about the partnership:
This partnership is a really exciting opportunity to merge Hammer’s amazing library with Network’s infrastructure. Whilst we work our way through restoring its entire back catalogue for future generations’ enjoyment, we’re equally excited about the development of new productions from the Hammer canon.”
Oakes added:
This new partnership will, for the first time, professionalize the restoration and creation of elements that are essential for distribution of the Hammer library across all media. At the same time we will, with Network, be able to build on the legacy of Britain’s most iconic film brand, one that started in 1934 and is alive and kicking in 2021.”
Formed in 1934, Hammer was most productive between the years of 1947 and 1979. In that time, they released 158 films, 50 of those being in the horror genre. Among their classics are series of Quatermass, Dracula, Frankenstein, and Mummy movies, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Phantom of the Opera (1962), The Gorgon, One Million Years B.C., The Reptile, The Devil Rides Out, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, numerous vampire movies, and many more. After a nearly thirty year hiatus, they returned to produce more horror films. Their output in the 21st century includes Let Me In, The Woman in Black, The Quiet Ones, and The Lodge.
