EXCLUSIVE: Former New Line, Lionsgate, and Paramount Vantage exec Guy Stodel will be the point acquisitions consultant at AMC Theatres’ new film label, Leawood Films.
Stodel joins Kyles Davies, who is leading distribution for Leawood in addition to advisors, former Warner Bros Group chairman and I Play Rocky producer, Toby Emmerich; and former Walt Disney Studios marketing president Ricky Strauss.
Stodel will be identifying movies and bringing opportunities into Leawood.
He began his acqusitions career at Lionsgate, negotiating rights to more than 100 films.
As SVP of Acquisitions and Co-Productions at New Line/Fine Line, he oversaw teams in Los Angeles, New York and London. He notably pre-bought, developed and executive produced the hit horror remakes The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th with Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. His acquisitions also included Academy Award winner The Sea Inside and Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind, which he executive produced.
As EVP of Acquisitions and Production at Paramount Vantage, Stodel oversaw teams in Los Angeles, London and Mexico, developing projects with filmmakers and writers including Todd Field, Brad Ingelsby, David Leslie Johnson and David Coggeshall.
He later served as President of Production at Vendôme Pictures, where he worked with Sian Heder to develop Coda, the English-language adaptation of the French film La Famille Bélier, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. His credits also include What Happened to Monday (Netflix/SND), directed by Tommy Wirkola (Violent Night) and starring Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close and Willem Dafoe; and The Take (Universal/Focus), directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil, upcoming Clayface) and starring Idris Elba and Richard Madden.
Through his production company, ROSTO, Inc., Stodel continues to identify and acquire international film and television rights, developing and producing English-language film and television adaptations. Projects include Sweat, based on Magnus von Horn’s acclaimed Polish film, written and directed by J. Blakeson and produced with AGC Studios; Peacock’s Bust Down; and Puzzle, starring Kelly Macdonald, which premiered at Sundance and was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. He is also developing Stoic Ridge for Peacock, adapted from the television format Le Clan, alongside Teton Ridge.
Stodel recently completed a first-look television deal with 20th Television, following an earlier deal with Blumhouse Television.