While you might not know the name Randall Emmett, it's likely you've seen at least one of the eighty films he's produced.  And with his company now funding higher profile movies like 2 Guns, Lone Survivor, Escape Plan, and many others, he's definitely making a name for himself in Hollywood.  A few days ago in New York City, I sat down with him for an extended interview.  Here are a few things I learned about some of his upcoming projects:

  • Baltasar Kormákur's Everest is in pre-production.  Filming will begin in November and will take place in the Italian Alps, Nepal, and on stages in London.  Cast is in final negotiations.
  • Martin Scorsese’s Silence starts filming next June.  Scorsese has already been on location scouts.
  • Witch Hunter with Vin Diesel starts production in February, directly after Diesel finishes Fast & Furious 7.
  • They just secured writers for Monopoly, which centers on a father and son.
  • Hungry Hungry Hippos will be a blend of 2D and CG animation.
  • What happened to Red Sonja?  Casting was always a big issue, the script was never right, and they had a bunch of different directors coming in and out.

Hit the jump for how 2 Guns came together, working with director Peter Berg on Lone Survivor, how he's able to finance movies, how he started as Wahlberg’s assistant many years ago, what happened with Buck Rogers, the status of another Rambo, how Escape Plan is a contemporary version of an 80s film, and so much more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Here's the time index followed by the video interview.

Randall Emmett

Randall Emmett Time Index:

  • :15 – Talks about producing so many films over the past few years and transitioning into higher profile movies.
  • 1:37 – The development process on 2 Guns.  Says Mark Wahlberg approached him about doing it while working on a different project.  He never thought they would get Denzel Washington to sign on.
  • 2:54 – His company’s relationship with Universal on the project and working with a major for the first time.
  • 3:49 – His role on set.  Says he’s there every week to support the filmmaker and see what they need.
  • 4:58 – Working as an independent producer and a financier.  Says after 50 movies working as just a producer, he decided they needed to raise their own fund and make the kind of movies they wanted to make.
  • 5:48 – How much input do the investors/partners have in him choosing which project he wants to make?
  • 7:30 – Talks about first working as Wahlberg’s assistant and how their relationship progressed.
  • 8:20 – Lone Survivor.  Talks about seeing the film for the first time.  “Anything I say about this film will undermine how great it is.”  Says it’s really emotional and special and he wanted to make the movie for his father, who was a Marine.
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    9:55 – Peter Berg’s vision for Lone Survivor.  Says during their first meeting Berg really knew the book and had already met with the families.  “He was on a mission to make that film that he had played in his head thousands of times.”
  • 11:17 – When will audiences see the first trailer for Lone Survivor?  Says they’ve shown the film to some soldiers and families already.
  • 12:27 – Everest.  Says they just commence pre-production.  They’re going to shoot in Italy for a lot of stuff on the mountain in the Alps, then also in Nepal and some stage work in London.  They’re going to base camp and into some of the falls.  Filming begins in November.
  • 13:10 – They’re in final negotiations for the Everest cast.  Talks about the investors seeing the big international appeal of the film.
  • 15:25 – What happened to Red Sonja?  Casting was always a big issue, the script was never right, and they had a bunch of different directors coming in and out.
  • 16:40 – Escape Plan.  Talks about Schwarzenegger being really good in the film.  Says it tested well.  Describes it as a contemporary version of an 80s film.
  • 17:38 – Hopes to make a movie called Captive with Schwarzenegger in the near future.  Talks about developing his company’s relationship with both Schwarzenegger and Stallone and working with the two actors.
  • 19:21 – Stallone’s hands-on approach to working on Escape Plan and being heavily involved in the preparation.
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    20:00 – Buck Rogers.  Says his company put money into the script for the film, but another company now owns the rights.  Talks about competing with the major studios as an independent company.
  • 21:21 – The prospect of another Rambo movie.  Says if Stallone decides to make it then it’s his decision, it’s out of Emmett’s hands.
  • 22:01 – Talks about trying to find his company’s own franchise.
  • 23:02 – Comic book movies.  Says he has two young executives at his company who bring in comics to him and pitch him on how successful a movie version could be.
  • 25:43 – Upcoming projects.  They’re filming Witch Hunter with Vin Diesel in February and Martin Scorsese’s Silence in June.
  • 26:00 – Talks about meeting with Martin Scorsese for Silence.  From a producing standpoint, he says it’s Scorsese’s passion project and Scorsese already has a very clear budget and production plan.  They’ve already been on location scouts.
  • 28:35 – Vin Diesel talk.  Talks about how Witch Hunter came together and how he got involved.  Filming begins directly after Diesel finishes Fast 7.
  • 30:09 – Captive they’re trying to get a director, and on Pursuit and Taking Gotham they’re casting.  They’ve given up the rights to Motor City.
  • 30:30 – Hungry Hungry Hippos is animated, a blend of 2D and 3D animation.  They’re in the middle of getting a director and script deal.
  • 30:45 – Monopoly. They just secured the writers for Monopoly.  Ridley Scott is no longer attached to direct. Describes it as “going into the world of Monopoly.  A kid and his father…”