Trancas International Films to Produce Along With Rob Zombie and Andy Gould

    NEW YORK, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimension Films is proud to announce
that they will make a new "Halloween" movie with Rob Zombie ("The Devil's
Rejects," "House of 1000 Corpses") writing, directing and serving as a
producer. Malek Akkad of Trancas International Films ("Halloween H20: 20
Years Later") will produce the feature along with Andy Gould of Vision
Entertainment Group ("The Devil's Rejects," "House of 1000 Corpses").
Zombie will also serve as music supervisor on the film. Miramax Films will
co-finance the development with Dimension Films. The announcement was made
today by The Weinstein Company co-chairman, Bob Weinstein.
    Zombie's vision of this film is an entirely new take on the legend and
will satisfy fans of the classic "Halloween" legacy while beginning a new
chapter in the Michael Myers saga. This new movie will not only appeal to
horror fans, but to a wider movie-going audience as well. It will not be a
copycat of any prior films in the "Halloween" franchise. The film is set
for an October 2007 theatrical release.
    Bob Weinstein stated, "Rob Zombie is a gifted musician and performer as
well as a talented filmmaker. His vision for this new 'Halloween' is
spectacular and I am thrilled to be collaborating with him and to work
closely with Malek Akkad to continue the legacy built by his father, the
late Moustapha Akkad."
    Zombie said, "I have been a huge, huge fan of John Carpenter's original
film since its release. So when Bob Weinstein approached me about this, I
jumped at the chance to join forces with Dimension Films on this amazing
project."
    The "Halloween" story began with the 1978 release of "John Carpenter's
Halloween," executive produced by the late Moustapha Akkad, founder of
Trancas International Films and became the highest grossing independent
film of the time. Moustapha Akkad's son, Malek, is now taking some of the
reigns on this new "Halloween" project to continue the outstanding work
begun by his father. Malek Akkad stated, "Trancas is very excited to be
working with Rob Zombie and producing another 'Halloween' with Bob
Weinstein and Dimension, the home of the franchise for the last three
installments. It will be a fitting and worthy tribute to my late father."
    "I am thrilled to be working again with Rob and with Dimension Films on
such an iconic project that will reinvigorate 'Halloween' and Michael Myers
in a truly terrifying new way," stated Andy Gould, Rob Zombie's long time
manager and producer of Zombie's two previous films.
    Richard Saperstein, president of production, Matthew Stein, senior vice
president of production and Alex Franklin, director of development and
production will oversee the project on behalf of Dimension. Bret McCartney
of Trancas International will oversee production on behalf of Trancas.
    Andrew Kramer, executive vice president of business and legal affairs,
and Lumumba Mosquera, senior vice president of business and legal affairs,
negotiated on behalf of Dimension Films. Attorneys David Fox and Jeffrey
Light of Myman Abell Fineman Greenspan & Light negotiated on behalf of Rob
Zombie. Attorney Wayne Kazan of Weissmann Wolff Bergman Coleman & Silverman
negotiated on behalf of Akkad. Rob Zombie is represented by Paradigm.
    ABOUT ROB ZOMBIE
    An auteur filmmaker and music artist with shrewd insight and creative
vision, Rob Zombie challenges audiences as he stretches the boundaries of
film, music and publishing.
    Zombie is the longest active artist on Geffen Records and has sold in
excess of fifteen million records. He is currently on a sold-out nationwide
tour for his latest gold-selling album, "Educated Horses." which debuted at
number five on the Billboard Top 200.
    In 2000, Zombie jumped from music to film with his directorial debut
and cult smash hit, "House of 1000 Corpses." Due to the film success Zombie
returned in 2004 to helm its follow up the critically acclaimed, "The
Devil's Rejects." Zombie was hailed by critics and fans alike as a
visionary filmmaker due to the film's uncompromising and wildly inventive
exploitive throw-back style.
    Prior to "House of 1000 Corpses," Zombie directed dozens of high
profile music videos. In 1995 Zombie won an MTV Music Video Award for "More
Human Than Human," becoming the first self-directed artist to win such an
award.
    After the success of "The Devil's Rejects," Zombie entered the world of
animation with "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto" a feature length film
in production at IDT.
    ABOUT MALEK AKKAD
    Malek Akkad is a twenty-year veteran of the entertainment industry.
Under his guidance, Trancas International Films has evolved into a diverse
entertainment company, involved in production, distribution, management,
music publishing and merchandising.
    Akkad has produced the last three installments of the successful
"Halloween" franchise, distributed by Dimension films, and is currently
producing "Halloween 9." Some other producing credits include "Walking
After Midnight," "The Psychic Murders," the recently completed, "Made In
Brooklyn," and the documentary, "Halloween: 25 Years of Terror."
    As a director, Akkad has numerous commercials and music videos to his
credit, including clients such as Coke Cola, and artists like Lo-Ball,
Simon Shaheen & Kazem. He also directed the feature film, "The Psychic
Murders," starring James Russo, Henry Rollins, and Terry Farrell. He is
currently developing "The Princess of Alhambra," a sweeping historical epic
set in medieval Spain, based on a script by Oscar winning screenwriter,
Robert Bolt.
    Akkad's company, Trancas, also manages a vibrant film library,
including titles such as "Halloween," "Halloween 4," "Halloween 5," "Hell
Night," and "Lion of the Desert." It also runs a merchandising department,
and the music publishing company, Jack-O-Lantern Music. Trancas has
recently opened television and management divisions, with several projects
in development, and a roster of recognizable talent.
    Tring Entertainments is Akkad's overseas affiliate, handling Trancas'
library internationally, with offices in Twickenham Film Studios, home to
such legendary productions such as "Reds," "Ghandi," "Blade Runner,"
"Donnie Brasco," "Interview with a Vampire" and Superman II & III, to name
a few.
    Akkad's newly formed Paranormal Pictures, in association with Jon
Sheinberg's The Machine, has recently completed production of the mob
comedy, "Made In Brooklyn." The company has also produced the upcoming
release from Anchor Bay Entertainment, "Halloween: 25 Years of Terror."
    Contact:
     Sarah Rothman
     Sarah.rothman@weinsteinco.com
     646-862-3823
     Julie Cloutier
     Julie.cloutier@weinsteinco.com
     646-862-3825

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