Bill Block
Born
William Hunt Block

(1954-04-02) April 2, 1954
New York City, U.S.
EducationColumbia University
OccupationFilm producer
SpouseEugenia Kuzmina

William Hunt Block (born April 2, 1954) is an American film producer who served as CEO of Miramax from April 2017 to October 2023. His producing credits include W. (2008), District 9 (2009), Fury (2014), Bad Moms (2016), Dirty Grandpa (2016), Halloween (2018), and Halloween Kills (2021).

Early life

Block was born in New York City, where he attended Columbia University and later became a supporter of the school's film program.[1]

Career

Block began his career as a literary agent before founding the Intertalent Agency in 1988, where he represented artists such as Kim Basinger, Samuel L. Jackson, Steven Seagal, Charlie Sheen, John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Sam Raimi, Roland Emmerich and William Friedkin. In 1992, he joined International Creative Management as head of West Coast Operations.[2]

Block founded Artisan Entertainment, an independent film studio that produced films including The Blair Witch Project; The Buena Vista Social Club; Darren Aronofsky's Pi and Requiem for a Dream; The Limey directed by Steven Soderbergh; The Ninth Gate starring Johnny Depp and directed by Roman Polanski; and David Koepp's Stir of Echoes and Made starring Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn.[3][4]

In 2002, Block founded film finance, production and sales company QED International. He was CEO of QED for 12 years, producing films including Neill Blomkamp's District 9 and Elysium, Oliver Stone's W. and David Ayer's WWII thriller Fury starring Brad Pitt.[5] In 2014, after Media Content Capital took a controlling interest in QED, Block left the company to launch Merced Media with producer Kevin Frakes.[6]

From 2015–17, he was managing director of Bill Block Media, producing the commercially successful Bad Moms starring Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell, and Dirty Grandpa starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron. In November 2015, he settled a legal dispute with QED, after his former company filed a federal lawsuit alleging trademark infringement and unfair competition concerning the rights to Dirty Grandpa.[7]

He was named CEO of Miramax in April 2017.[5] He left the studio in October 2023 following the lapse of his contract with them, forming another production company, BlockFilm, later that month.[8][9]

Personal life

Block lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife, Eugenia Kuzmina, a model, actress and comedian, his two sons and a daughter.[10]

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

Year Film Credit Notes Ref.
2001Vanilla SkyExecutive producer
2003Devil's PondExecutive producerDirect-to-video
2007First BornExecutive producer
The Lucky OnesExecutive producer
The Hunting Party
2008Smart PeopleExecutive producer
W.
2009Powder BlueExecutive producer
District 9Executive producer
2011Texas Killing FieldsExecutive producer
2012Alex Cross
2013Elysium
Fading Gigolo
Haunt
2014Sabotage
Fury
2015The Family FangExecutive producer
Rock the Kasbah
2016Dirty Grandpa
Bad Moms
2017A Bad Moms ChristmasExecutive producer
2018Halloween
The Perfection
2019Jay and Silent Bob RebootExecutive producer
The Gentlemen
2020Uncle Frank
2021Wrath of Man
He's All That
Halloween Kills
Mother/Android
2022Sick
Confess, Fletch
Halloween Ends
2023Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
Gray MatterExecutive producer
The Holdovers
Strange Darling
Old Dads
2024The Beekeeper
Here
TBA
Harvest Moon
The Home
The Georgetown Project
World War 3
Production manager
Year Film Role Notes
1998BellyExecutive in charge of production
1999Stir of Echoes
2000The Way of the Gun
2001The Center of the World
Made
Uncredited
Thanks
Year Film Role
1997SpawnThanks

Television

Year Title Credit Notes
2015Good at LifeExecutive producerTelevision film
2020Spy CityExecutive producer
2023Project Greenlight: A New GenerationExecutive producerDocumentary
TBASerendipityExecutive producer
The GentlemenExecutive producer

References

  1. ↑ "Minds Behind the Film Festival Saluted. Columbia University Record. MAY 21, 1997". www.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  2. ↑ Claudia Eller (October 13, 1992). "Block Bound for ICM". Variety.
  3. ↑ Pamela, McClintock (9 February 2006). "Block makes indie move". Daily Variety. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Mike Goodridge (August 15, 2001). "Bill Block resigns from Artisan Entertainment". ScreenDaily.
  5. 1 2 McNary, Dave (April 26, 2017). "Miramax Hires Veteran Producer Bill Block as CEO". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  6. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 8, 2014). "'Fury' Producer Bill Block, Kevin Frakes Launch Merced Media With $500 Million For Slate Financing". Deadline. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  7. ↑ McNary, Dave (November 5, 2015). "Bill Block, QED Settle Legal Dispute". Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  8. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Andreeva, Nellie (October 2, 2023). "Shocker! Shakeup At Miramax As CEO Bill Block Exits". Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (27 October 2023). "Jason Statham To Star In David Ayer-Directed Sylvester Stallone Script 'Levon's Trade' From Black Bear & Bill Block's BlockFilm — AFM Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "At Home With Eugenia Kuzmina In Hollywood Hills". Pump Magazine. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  11. ↑ Ashton, Will (2022-03-08). "'Old Dads': Katie Aselton Joins the Cast of Bill Burr's Directorial Debut". Collider. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
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