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EXCLUSIVE: Seed Productions partners Hugh Jackman and John Palermo are splitting up. Jackman has decided to focus on his acting career, while Palermo has made a new deal at 20th Century Fox, where Seed was based. The new deal will run through end of 2011. Allan Mandelbaum will stay with Palermo as development veep.
Palermo was Jackman’s assistant for two years before they formed the company and set it at Fox four years ago. They produced X-Men: The Last Stand, Deception and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The company is also producing Avon Man, the Kevin Lima-directed film that Jackman dropped out of early this week, and Drive, a drama that Odd Lot Entertainment is financing. Jackman once planned to star in that film, an adaptation of the James Sallis novel. Ryan Gosling is now starring as a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a wheelman and discovers there is a contract on his head. Nicholas Winding Refn is directing. Production begins in September, with Palermo and Marc Platt producing.
Palermo said he and Jackman will continue working together on projects they set up together. That includes the Wolverine sequel they are producing with Lauren Shuler Donner that is gearing up for an early 2011 production start in Japan, with the studio narrowing its list of directors. Chris McQuarrie wrote that screenplay. Jackman and Palermo also remain partners on Barnum, the original musical that Jenny Bick is writing for Fox 2000. Jackman will play P.T. Barnum in that musical, which they are producing with Laurence Mark. There is also Carousel, the remake of the 1956 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that has a script by David McGee (Life of Pi), also at Fox 2000.
Palermo said they will selectively use the Seed Productions banner on those projects they do in tandem, but he will hatch a new company name for projects going forward. He recently made a deal at Fox 2000 on the Catherine Fisher novel Incarceron. Adam Cooper and Bill Collage have been set to write the script. They are coming off writing a film about Moses for Peter Chernin Entertainment.
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Hopefully, this will allow Hugh Jackman to focus on his career ( film and theatre) more effectively. In the past, he has had to put SEED projects in priority, and he may have let go of other film offers to give room to SEED projects. His agent, Patrick Whitesell of WME, can provide him many opportunities for more challenging film roles… and even give him some time for stage roles, in which he excels.
More power to Hugh!
Kevin Spacey is able to do it. His company is extremely active with projects while he lives in London doing theater most of the time.
Palermo was Bryan Singer’s assistant on the first X-Men movie.
It’s encouraging to see that Mr. Jackman has at least two musicals in development. The talent which we had a sample of at the Academy Awards should be recorded on film.
Having worked with Hugh in a fanboy flick, i’ve seen his enthusiam diminish but he has always been the consummate professional. He’s just a more versatile and talented actor that needs to unleash the true passions within.
And more power to you, Mr. Whitesell – errr, I mean ‘jo’.
Palermo is the luckiest man alive – went from being hugh’s assistant to getting EP producer credit on X-3 – for doing nothing. Hugh has been his golden ticket – we’ll see how he does on his own
Their keeping him because he’s attached to a number of projects Just like Lawrence Bender is attached to a few of Tarantino’s projects. Just shows It pays to have ironclad contracts and good Lawyers.
John has some friends in high places…
Simple. It’s a favor for Hugh. If Palermo’s deal runs out at the end of 2011, that’s only 16 months. They’re not really showing him a lot of love.
Angie and Hank, it might not be smart to slam Hollywood assistants in this forum. And yes, I speak from experience.
Being an assistant to a Director of a tent pole for 20th and then 2 years with Jackman qualifies him to stick around for awhile. Besides, who wants to dismiss somebody named Palermo?
For a long time it has been obvious that Jackman’s talents are much greater than the vehicles in which he has appeared. Maybe this will open up the opportunity to explore better roles rather than just commercial ones.
Mandelbaum is a rockstar. Palermo is lucky to have him.
Mandelbaum is a definate asset. He has an incredible future ahead. Keep an eye on this guy. We will be hearing about him.
This is great news! And not to knock production folks, I’m sure you fulfill a valuable and worthy purpose. But let’s face it, the world is full of producers, assistance producers, executive producers of all levels of experience and expertise for hire, but how many Hugh Jack man’s are out there?
And before anyone laughs at Hugh Jackman working with Miley Cyrus, I would remind them that ALL of Miley’s projects, without exception, have been HIGHLY profitable.
So Palermo and Jackman finally broke up eh? In Jackman’s defense that was pretty long for a hollywood relationship. Can’t wait to see what Palermo does “on his own”.
I would sell my farm for a DVD of Hugh’s “The Boy From Oz” show on Broadway, to keep beside my “Oklahoma” DVD. That man is so TALENTED! He is the greatest one out there.
I AGREE about a DVD on “Boy From OZ” I was so dissapointed that they did not make one like Oklahoma. Millions of US fans missed out on this great performance, not to mention the rest of the fans around the world. Hugh is the Greatest all aroung talent of the time. Everything he does is with love and intent and energy. Not everyone can afford to travel to Broaday, stay in an expensive hotel and pay for a ticket to a show. We really got CHEATED!!! But now that he can devote more time to his career,maybe we will get the chance to see Broadway Plays/Musical on DVD..Someone push for us poorer fans. A word to Hugh: suggest he keep Deb out of some of the sets as she looks like she doesn’t trust him to be romantic in a sceen. Her lack of confidence??? But best of luck to future endeavors and to his family. Love ya Hugh.
I agree pretty much with all the comments above… Hugh is THE ONE and Palermo’s departure will have no effect on his talent. Only, it must be heartbreaking to put an end to such long and intense friendship and partnership. My heart is with him.
I was lucky enough to see “The Boy from Oz” on stage in Sydney, the flashy flamboyant “arena spectacular” version, what a blast !!! Now my only dream is to see him again in a musical.
Even if “A Steady Rain”, the very dark play where he co-starred with Daniel Craig on Broadway last winter, was really a great moment…
Last detail: there IS a CD available somewhere on the Net with a record of “The Boy from Oz” on Broadway… better than nothing, until they at last release an official version…
Hey Logan, I have the CD “Boy from Oz” bought at a Hastings store who ordered it for me. It has all the music except one. The list is on the back. I spent hours going into U-Tube to find the musical numbers and saved into Favorites in the order on the C.D. However you will find one numbver on U-Tube not on the CD, watch for it, he does a number on top of a piano. The nice thing is they are all still there last time I checked. Was able to put the whole thing into a separate file. Just would like to have and see the complete story that goes in between the musical numbers. Hope they keep all of these nummbers on U-Tube or we are lost and cheated again. Good luck. P.S. I order a lost of dvd’s from hastings on-line and there service is tops and everything in mint condition. M. Tippens
It’s really refreshing to hear that Hugh is moving on with his career. He is not only a multifaceted person, but a multifaceted talent. Even though he has no formal voice training, he is a wonderful natural in music. There is absolutely no other singer I would rather listen to over and over. His voice is truly God-given, as well as his many other talents. I have to agree with Regina about a DVD for the “Boy From Oz”. I also have the “Oklahoma” DVD, and watch it constantly, along with “Australia”, a movie which, in my opinion, did not receive the KUDOS it so well deserved. Hugh and Nicole did a fantastic job in this movie, as well as Baz Luhrman. He couldn’t have chosen two better actors for the job. I currently own all of Hugh’s movies to date, at least all the movies I can buy here in the U.S. I would love to own all of his Australian made movies as well. I believe John Palermo will do alright on his own. He has the experience, and has been well taught by the best, that being Hugh Jackman. Hugh has made a name for himself, and now it is time for him to step out on his own. Way to go Hugh!!!! I am sending you much love and wishes for much more deserved success!! As for Deborra, well, I don’t think she is jealous at all, and even if she were, she would have every right to be. She is a very lucky woman to have Hugh as her husband. But I think that Hugh would tell you that he is a lucky man to have Deborra for his wife. She gives Hugh all of her support, and that, people, is what makes for a successful marriage. Much love to them both!!
You know, something just clicked in this tiny little brain of mine. Wouldn’t it be great if Hugh could to a movie called “The Boy From Oz”? Now, that would be something to scream about!!!!
Hey Bonnie, I totally agree that Hugh should make The Boy from Oz as a movie. He is the ONLY one who can play Peter Allen , but Broadway would probably throw a fit because they want to keep it as a stage production and take it on the road. Big mistake, because no-one will pay to see some other unknown do the part. If fans keep pushing, maybe someone will listen and give us what we really want. Maybe Baz Lurhman and the Donners will get together and do the movie. They seem to believe in Hugh’s talents..Let’s hope. Have a good one.
Hey Margie!! I am in total agreement with what you said about The Boy From Oz. You are probably right about Broadway throwing a fit if someone DID want to put it to the big screen. Personally, I would not pay to see someone else play the part of Peter Allen. Just like Wolverine, Hugh “owns” the part. He was fantastic, from the videos I’ve seen on YouTube. I think I’m going to write to Hugh and Baz Lurhman just to “suggest” to them what a great movie it would be, and how many of Hugh’s fans would love to see it on the big screen due to the fact that many people cannot afford airfare, hotel and tickets to a play in New York. I am planning a trip to New York when his next play hits Broadway. Can’t wait!! Have a wonderful day!!