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Craven to Direct Next Feature Via New Midnight Ent.

Horror master Wes Craven (SCREAM, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET) will make his next film as director for Rogue Pictures via his newly formed production company, Midnight Ent., which has made a two-year first-look production deal with Rogue.

Craven is writing the screenplay for the feature, a psychological thriller set in a small town and based on his own original concept. He will also produce the film.

Craven's longtime producer Marianne Maddalena is running Midnight, which will produce modestly budgeted genre films that other filmmakers will direct.

Rogue will hold worldwide rights on Craven's new film, as well as on all Midnight projects, including the previously announced THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. The latter film, to be produced by Craven, and Maddalena and Sean S. Cunningham, is a remake of Craven's 1972 horror classic and is out to directors for a production start in early 2007.

As producers, Craven and Maddalena will continue to develop Gold Circle Films' supernatural horror thriller THE WAITING, to which Rogue holds domestic distribution rights and which preceded the formation of Midnight.

Projects that Craven writes and/or directs are not subject to the Rogue first-look pact, and are separate from his projects with Maddalena. In addition to the films she is producing with Craven, Maddalena will actively develop her own slate.

Rogue co-presidents Andrew Karpen and Andrew Rona said, "Wes Craven is a leading director, one whose filmmaking skills are revered by genre fans and respected by the film community. His professionalism is known and admired throughout the industry. We're delighted that his Midnight Entertainment will be based here at Rogue."

Craven commented, "Andrew Rona and I have a long history of working together, and I'm delighted to be in business with him again and with Andrew Karpen. I look forward to making many fun and successful films at Rogue."

Rogue Pictures is devoted to producing and distributing suspense, action, thriller, comedy and urban entertainment with mainstream appeal and franchise potential. Rogue Pictures is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Ent., NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

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