Atomic Monster, the production firm of Malaysian-Chinese-Australian director James Wan struck a deal with Chinese company Starlight Media, on Aug. 15, Monday, in Beverly Hills. The deal has it that Starlight Media will provide an equity finance and development fund to Atomic Monster films up to $100 million. It will assist Wan in seeking growth for his production company which was founded in Oct. 2014.
Wan started with the 2004 hit "Saw" horror series, and recently, produced and directed through Atomic Monsters, this year's "The Conjuring 2." Other Atomic Monster productions include "Lights Out" and the upcoming "Annabelle 2." Wan is also the executive producer of the CBS series "MacGyver" which will premiere on Sept. 23.
On the other hand, Starlight Media was at first a real estate firm in China 20 years ago. It recently expanded to become a diversified media firm run by CEO Peter Luo and Chairman Xu Yan. It got into the entertainment business since 2013.
Starlight Media is also a strategic partner of Alibaba Pictures and the two collaborate in China. Stacey Testro International, David Fox and Paradigm represented Atomic Monster and Wan while Vice President Beely Lee and CEO Peter Luo represented Starlight, according to Hollywood Reporter.
Meanwhile, James Wan directorial credits include the 2018 "Aquaman," "The Conjuring 2" (2016), "Furious 7" (2015), "Insidious: Chapter 2" (2013), "The Conjuring" (2013) and "Insidious" (2011). He is currently occupied with CBS' new fall series "MacGyver," a reboot of the 1985 show about an ingenious agent.
There is also "Lights Out" which will land on Irish theaters this week. The film is terrifying but with a cool backstory.
The backstory of "Lights Out" is inspired by a short directed by David F. Sandberg in 2013, according to Irish Examiner. The Swedish filmmaker directs "Lights Out."
James Wan who had been with horror hits is also involved. He was able to make a hit out of a $1 million budget "Saw" more than a decade now. The new supernatural film though has a $5 million budget and has already made almost a hundred million. Released on July 22 by Warner Bros, it will be in Ireland cinemas on Aug. 19.
Here is producer Wan in a video interview about the newly-released "Lights Out."