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Icon Productions

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"Icon Entertainment" redirects here. Not to be confused with Icon Films.
Icon Productions
Company typePublic
IndustryFilm
FoundedAugust 1989; 35 years ago (August 1989)
HeadquartersSydney, Australia
Santa Monica, California
Key people
Mel Gibson
Bruce Davey
ProductsMotion pictures
Websitewww.iconfilm.com.au

Icon Productions, also formerly referred to as Icon Entertainment International, is a production company founded in August 1989 by actor/director Mel Gibson and Australian producing partner Bruce Davey. Icon Productions LLC's headquarters were established in Santa Monica, California, before opening branches in Sydney, Australia, and in the UK, and expanding into the business of film distribution.

In 2008–2009, the company's UK operations were sold to Access Industries, and Icon Film Distribution UK was sold to Kaleidoscope Film Distribution UK in March 2018. As of 2025, the parent company Dendy Icon Group in Australia, still held by Gibson and Davey, owns Icon Productions, Icon Film Distribution, Dendy Cinemas, and Icon Film Finance. There is also an Icon Productions office in Santa Monica, run by Vicki Christianson.

History

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1990s – early 2000s

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Icon started when Gibson was having trouble in financing his film Hamlet.[1] Gibson and Davey co-founded Icon Productions in August 1989[2][3] in order to fund the film.[4]

Gibson has explained that the company's name was chosen because icon means "image" in Greek, and that the inspiration came from a book on Russian icons in his den. The logo's artwork originally features a sketch of Michael the Archangel in 1993, but now features a small crop of the mother's left eye from the Theotokos of Vladimir icon, an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary, mother of God.[citation needed]

Crop of Theotokos of Vladimir icon as an Icon Productions logo

Unlike most other independents, Icon financed most of its development and packaging costs internally, mainly by Gibson, allowing it to retain creative control of projects through production.[4][5]

In late 1996, New Zealand producer Timothy White became founding head of a co-production venture between Fox and Gibson,[6] called Fox-Icon, based at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney. The company failed to produce a single film, shutting down in December 1999.[7]

In 2000, Icon established a film distribution company for in Sydney, Australia, headed by Mark Gooder. A UK subsidiary for distribution was also established. Gooder moved to Los Angeles (Santa Monica) in 2006 to manage production, acquisition, and distribution operations there.[8][9] After the financial success of The Passion of the Christ (2004), there was frequent mention of the ability of Icon to function as a mini-studio. However, Davey downplayed those expectations, saying, "The last thing we want is to become a studio. We don't want to become that top-heavy. We want to be independent and passionate. We don't want to lose the magic".[1]

Icon Productions owned a library of over 250 film titles.[10]

2008–2009 changes

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At the beginning of 2008, Icon was co-financing and co-selling the thriller Push, with Summit Entertainment. It was also had stakes in the The Black Balloon, an Australian drama starring Toni Collette, and the horror comedy Infestation.[8]

In January 2008, Mark Gooder, then president of acquisitions and development, overseeing Icon Productions, Icon Entertainment International as well as the distribution companies in Australia and the UK, was appointed CEO in place of Davey. Gooder also became board member, along with COO and CFO Vicki Christianson. Davey's role as CEO of Icon Productions ended on 1 January 2008, but he continued as chairman of the board.[8] Gooder managed Icon Productions' international sales and the UK distribution company from Los Angeles, at the same time running Icon in Australia.[9]

In February 2008, it was reported that screenwriter Benedict Fitzgerald was suing Mel Gibson, along with Vicki Christianson, Icon Productions, Icon Distribution, Marquis Films, and Airborne Productions, for defrauding him of millions of dollars, as well as incorrectly taking co-writing credit for the screenplay of Passion of the Christ.[11] In May 2009, Gibson agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Fitzgerald. Details of the settlement, agreed at Los Angeles County Superior Court, were not released.[12]

In February 2008, Icon entered the exhibition business for the first time by purchasing Dendy Cinemas, Australia's largest independent film distributor and art house cinema chain.[13]

In September 2008, Davey and Gibson started negotiations for the sale of the Icon international sales and film distribution arms along with the Majestic library. UK operations were sold to US-based industrial group Access Industries (founded by Leonard Blavatnik), with former UK Film Council chairman Stewart Till as new CEO and equity holder in the business. The new company would continue to use the Icon name and would have a three-year first-look deal with Icon Productions to handle the international rights to its productions.[14][15] The sale was completed in November 2009. The deal included Icon's international sales company, the distribution operation based in the UK, and the Majestic Films & Television library, but not the Los Angeles operation Icon Productions LLC, which Gibson still owned outright with Davey, who relocated to Australia, the distribution operation based in Australia and the Dendy Cinemas operation were also not part of the acquisition deal.[5]

2010–present

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In November 2011, Icon announced it was closing its UK distribution wing to focus on financing and producing films, with Lionsgate taking over distribution and was said to be in talks to buy its back catalogue.[16] In late 2012, Icon Entertainment International re-acquired a majority of the Producers Sales Organization library from Lionsgate. In 2013, it was announced that Icon UK could get backing from film fund Prescience. Earlier, the unit hired Exclusive Media (later AMBI Group) to represent its library.[17] In September 2013, Icon Film Distribution UK was purchased by investment company New Sparta.[18]

In August 2012 Mark Gooder left Icon, after being appointed president of acquisitions and Australian operations for The Weinstein Company.[9]

In September 2017, after a string of box office bombs back in 2016, Icon Film Distribution UK was put up for sale by New Sparta. In March 2018, New Sparta sold Icon Film Distribution UK to Kaleidoscope Film Distribution.[19]

In 2017 Icon Productions LLC in the US sued the producer of their film The Professor and the Madman for breach of contract,[20] but on 19 June 2018, Judge Ruth Kwan of the Los Angeles County Superior Court did not allow this, saying that there was not enough evidence.[21]

Current operations

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US

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The 2025 film Flight Risk, a thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, is a co-production between Icon and Davis Entertainment Company. Gibson directed and co-produced the film along with Davey, John Davis, and John Fox.[22]

As of January 2025 the business registration of Icon Productions LLC in California shows its founding date as 29 May 1997. It lists an individual agent, Vicki Christianson, at 808 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 400, Santa Monica, Ca 90401.[23]

Australia

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The 2008–2009 transaction did not include the Australian distribution company and cinemas,[24][25] which remained as Icon Film Distribution as of February 2019.[26]

The Australian arm became one of the leading independent distributors in Australia.[9]

As of January 2025, the Australian website states that the Dendy Icon Group, comprising Icon Productions, Icon Film Distribution, Dendy Cinemas, and Icon Film Finance, "focuses on quality feature films and alternative content within the Australian and New Zealand markets". The group is still owned by Gibson and Davey.[27]

Films

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Television

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References

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  1. ^ a b Robert Lusetich (2008-05-15). "Still magic after 20 years with Mel Gibson at Icon". Archived from the original on 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  2. ^ Press release (October 25, 2007). "PBS, Icon Productions and Carrier Project Granted Unprecedented Access to U.S. Aircraft Carrier to Film Revealing 10-Part Series, Carrier" (Press release). PBS.
  3. ^ Kim Williamson (August 1997). "Australian Native Sons Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey of Icon Bring It All Back Home". Box Office Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  4. ^ a b Brian D. Johnson (December 25, 2006). "Mad Mel's passion for vengeance". Maclean's.
  5. ^ a b "Mel Gibson Sells UK Arm Of His Icon Group". Deadline Hollywood. November 2009. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  6. ^ Botes, Costa. "Tim White". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  7. ^ Woods, Mark (9 December 1999). "No pix made, Fox-Icon shut". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Kay, Jeremy; Kay, Jeremy; Macnab, Geoffrey (1 January 2008). "Mark Gooder takes over from Davey as CEO of Icon Group". Screen Daily. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Kilday, Gregg (23 August 2012). "Former Icon Productions CEO Mark Gooder Joins the Weinstein Co". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  10. ^ Stephen Galloway (2004-11-15). "Australian Dialogue: Mel Gibson & Bruce Davey". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  11. ^ "'The Christ,' Screenwriter Says". Courthouse News Service. 12 Feb 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Mel Gibson settles Passion of Christ Script lawsuit". Contactmusic.com. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  13. ^ Pip Bulbeck (2008-02-23). "Icon expands in Australia with Dendy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  14. ^ Garry Maddox (September 10, 2008). "Mel Gibson lets go of the steering wheel". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  15. ^ Stuart Kemp (September 8, 2008). "Stewart Till takes control of Icon Group". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  16. ^ Shoard, Catherine. "Icon stops UK distribution and axes London jobs". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  17. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy; Utichi, Joe (25 March 2013). "Cannes' New UK Buyer? Icon Could Resurface With Backing From Prescience". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  18. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (23 September 2013). "Icon Film Distribution Relaunches In UK Following Acquisition By New Sparta". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  19. ^ "UK Stalwart Icon Film Distribution and Its 300-Strong Library Finds Buyer in Kaleidoscope". 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018.
  20. ^ "Mel Gibson Sues Producer for Sabotaging "Labor of Love" Film". The Hollywood Reporter. 31 July 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  21. ^ Gardner, Eriq (20 June 2018). "Mel Gibson Loses Court Bid to Reclaim Rights to 'Madman' Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  22. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (27 June 2024). "Mel Gibson Directs a Bald, Bloody Mark Wahlberg for 'Con Air'-Style Thriller 'Flight Risk'". IndieWire. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Business Search". Secretary of State (California). 9 October 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  24. ^ Jeremy Kay (November 1, 2009). "Stewart Till closes deal to buy Icon UK, Icon International". Screen International. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  25. ^ Stuart Kemp (November 1, 2009). "Stewart Till finalizes Icon Group deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  26. ^ "About Icon Films". Icon Film Distribution. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  27. ^ "About Icon". Icon Film. Archived from the original on 3 Dec 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
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