Sample some of the best American films over the past twenty-five years and there’s a good chance Mike Medavoy played a role in the success of many of them. From agenting to studio chief, he has been involved with over 300 feature films.  More on Mike Medavoy...

Over the course of his distinguished career, Arnold Messer has firmly established himself as one of the leading figures in the film and television industries. Today, as President and Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Pictures, Messer brings his wealth of expertise to bear on the company’s future as a beacon for film and television entertainment. More on Arnold Messer...
 
 
 

Brad Fischer began his career at Phoenix Pictures in August of 1998 as Executive Assistant to Mike Medavoy, Chairman and CEO. He was promoted to Director of Development in 1999, to Vice President of Production in 2002, to Senior Vice President of Production in 2004 and most recently to Co-President of Production in January, 2007.More on Brad Fischer

Born and educated in England, Thwaites began his career as a child actor appearing in a number of television series over a ten year period.  At the age of eighteen, whilst an undergraduate at London University, he co-founded a film production company set up a small production company which developed a number of projects and produced 'The Skip', a short film aired by Channel Four. More on David Thwaites...

  
 
 
   

Chris Trunkey joined Phoenix Pictures in August 2001. In September 2002 he became Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for the company's finance, accounting, information technology and administrative functions. More on Chris Trunkey

 

  
 

Please use the Phoenix Pictures contact sheet to find the appropriate person or department to speak with concerning film production and development.

Phoenix Pictures was established in 1995 by Mike Medavoy and Arnold Messer, two of the motion pictures industry’s most experienced senior executives.

Phoenix ’s first film, “The Mirror Has Two Faces,” was directed by and starred Barbra Streisand, with Jeff Bridges and Lauren Bacall rounding out the cast. This was followed by “The People vs. Larry Flynt” directed by two-time Academy Award winner Milos Forman and starring Woody Harrelson. Next came Oliver Stone’s “U-Turn” featuring Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte and Billy Bob Thornton.

“Swept from the Sea” followed, directed by Beeban Kidron and starring Sir Ian McKellen, Joss Ackland, and Kathy Bates. Phoenix then produced Bryan Singer’s “Apt Pupil”, based on the novella by Stephen King, which also starred Sir Ian McKellen, Rachel Weisz and Brad Renfro.

Next came the box office hit “Urban Legend,” directed by Jamie Blanks, produced by Neal H. Moritz, Gina Matthews, and Michael McDonnell, starring Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart and Tara Reid. “Urban Legend” was the fifth top-grossing film released by Columbia/Tri-Star in l998.

In 1997 Legendary filmmaker Terrence Malick returned to filmmaking after 19 years to direct “The Thin Red Line” for Phoenix Pictures. Adapted by Malick from the James Jones novel, the film’s cast includes Sean Penn, George Clooney, John Cusack, Nick Nolte, Ben Chaplin, Jim Caviezel, Adrian Brody, Elias Koteas, Woody Harrelson and Jared Leto.  The film was released by Fox 2000 and was named one of the top ten films of the year by the National Board of Review, and The New York Film Critics awarded Terrence Malick its 1998 Best Director award, with John Toll winning for best cinematography. The film went on to receive seven Academy Awards nominations: Best Picture, Director, Screenplay based on material previously published, Cinematography, Editing, Score and Sound. It received an additional five nominations from the Chicago Film Critics, including Best Picture; a Golden Bear from the Berlin Film Festival, and five Golden Satellite awards, including Best Picture, from the International Press Association. John Toll won Best Cinematography from the A.S.C., and Terrence Malick was nominated for Best Direction of a Motion Picture by the DGA.

Phoenix Pictures’ other releases were “Dick,” starring Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Dan Hedaya and Will Ferrell and “Lake Placid,” starring Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda and Oliver Platt, written by David E. Kelly and directed by Steve Miner.

In 2000, Phoenix Pictures produced “Whatever It Takes,” starring Shane West and James Franco.  The film was produced by Paul Schiff, written by Mark Schwahn, and directed by David Raynr.

Next,  Phoenix Pictures and Plurabelle Films developed the comedy “Mad About Mambo,” starring William Ash, Keri Russell and Brian Cox and the sequel “Urban Legends: Final Cut,” directed by John Ottman  and starring Matthew Davis, Jennifer Morrison, Hart Bochner and Anthony Andrews.

Intern ational box office star Arnold Schwarzenegger headlined the futuristic action thriller “The 6th Day” directed by Roger Spottiswoode, produced by Jon Davison, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mike Medavoy and co-starring Tony Goldwyn and Robert Duvall.

After “The 6th Day,” Phoenix produced “Basic,” starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, directed by John McTiernan; “Holes,” the award-winning New York Times best selling children’s novel, starring Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight and Patricia Arquette, directed by Andy Davis; “In My Country,” directed by John Boorman, starring Juliette Binoche and Samuel L. Jackson and “Stealth,” directed by Rob Cohen, starring Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx and Sam Shephard.

In 2006 Phoenix released  “All the King’s Men,” starring Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson, Anthony Hopkins, written and directed by Steve Zaillian and the independently financed “Miss Potter,” starring Renee Zellwegger and Ewan McGregor, directed by Chris Noonan.

In 2007 came “Zodiac,” starring Jake Gyllenhall, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox and directed by David Fincher; “Pathfinder,” directed by Marcus Nispel and starring Karl Urban, Russell Means and Moon Bloodgood; “Resurrecting the Champ,” directed by Rod Lurie and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett and Alan Alda and “License to Wed,” directed by Ken Kwapis and starring Robin Williams, John Krasinski and Mandy Moore. 

Phoenix is currently in production on “ Shutter Island,” directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley and Michelle Williams.

Medavoy and Messer have established Phoenix as one of the premiere labels in the film business, bringing quality entertainment to audiences around the world.