Mario Kassar Biography

American film producer

Mario F. K*ar (Arabic: ماريو قصار; born October 10, 1951) is a Lebanese-American film producer and industry executive who produced the first three films of the Rambo series, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Total Recall, The Doors, Angel Heart, Jacob's Ladder, Rambling Rose, Basic Instinct, Universal Soldier, Chaplin, Showgirls, and Stargate, among other films.

He founded the now-defunct Carolco Pictures with Andrew G. Vajna.

Early life

K*ar was born on October 10, 1951, in Beirut, Lebanon. Like him, his father was also an independent movie producer. K*ar is of Lebanese and Italian descent.

At the age of 15, K*ar had purchased several Italian and French films for distribution in the Far East.

Carolco Pictures

1970s and Vajna

K*ar met Andrew G. Vajna at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival. A year later, K*ar and Vajna founded Carolco Pictures. "Carolco" was a name they had taken from a long-defunct company based in Panama. "We just bought the name," K*ar later told Entertainment Weekly. "It means nothing."

The first film K*ar and Vajna ventured together was The Sicilian Cross, a 1976 Italian film that starred Roger Moore. They bought the rights to the film for $130,000. K*ar flew to Asia and sold it for $220,000. By the early 1980s, Vajna and K*ar had bought a small office in Melrose Avenue. Their desks faced each other in the office and Vajna's wife and K*ar's girlfriend were their secretaries. K*ar and Vajna served as executive producers on The Changeling (1980), The Amateur (1981), and Escape to Victory (1981). The latter film marked the first time for both K*ar and Vajna to have worked with Sylvester Stallone.

1980s and Rambo

In 1980, K*ar and Vajna paid Warner Bros. approximately $383,000 for the option rights of David Morrell's 1972 novel, First Blood. Even though they overpaid him, K*ar and Vajna cast Stallone as John Rambo because they knew the actor's star status could be used to secure the requisite investment. The result, First Blood, was a major hit in October 1982, and eventually made $125 million on its $14 million investment, making Carolco a major Hollywood production company. According to the Los Angeles Times, a Lebanese group *ociated with K*ar's family was instrumental in financing the film.

From the mid to late 1980s, K*ar executive produced two Rambo sequels: Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and Rambo III (1988), both of them also released by Carolco. K*ar also executive produced Angel Heart (1987) and Johnny Handsome (1989), as well as having produced Red Heat (1988).

"They knew the international distribution business so well," remembers Alan Parker, who directed Angel Heart for Carolco. "They figured out that 60 percent of the revenue of a film comes from outside the U.S. market. Andy and Mario personally knew all the worldwide local independent distributors."

In 1989, Vajna left Carolco and sold his interests to K*ar. "After Rambo, we were trying to become a major studio. I felt that was the wrong direction," Vajna told Entertainment Weekly. "My feelings were very negative and it caused a lot of friction between Mario, myself, and Peter (Hoffman), who was by then Mario's right hand. I disagreed with where they wanted to go, and Peter played our egos against each other. He wanted to be a partner." K*ar and Vajna's partnership had fallen apart that year, and the latter was paid approximately $100 million for his share in the company. K*ar carried on with Peter Hoffman, who was president/chief executive of Carolco at the time since 1986. Hoffman had been introduced to K*ar by Tom Pollock, who would later become head of Universal Studios.

Dino De Laurentiis's defunct studio, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, along with its headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina was purchased by Hoffman at K*ar's urging.

1990s and Hoffman

Films that K*ar executive produced during the 1990s included Total Recall (1990), Air America (1990), Narrow Margin (1990), L.A. Story (1991), The Doors (1991), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Rambling Rose (1991), Basic Instinct (1992), Cliffhanger (1993), Stargate (1994), Last of the Dogmen (1995), Showgirls (1995) and Cutthroat Island (1995). K*ar also produced Universal Soldier (1992) and Chaplin (1992). During that time, relations between K*ar and Hoffman had degenerated into mistrust and antipathy. Hoffman thought K*ar's largesse was destroying the company; K*ar suspected Hoffman was scheming to depose him. Hoffman later resigned in March 1992 with a $1.8 million settlement. A falling out that he had with K*ar was what caused Hoffman to resign.

"They're extraordinary men, but they couldn't prevent confusion, conflict and disintegration," says Daniel Melnick, who produced Carolco's L.A. Story. "There were armed camps on both sides," recalls Melnick, who resigned from the Carolco board in April 1991.

K*ar paid $10 million to Arnold Schwarzenegger for him to star in Total Recall and $15 million to Michael Douglas for him to star in Basic Instinct. "(K*ar) was a big-time riverboat gambler," says Brian Grazer, who coproduced the $43 million The Doors with K*ar. K*ar went as far as even giving Schwarzenegger his own airplane, which cost an additional $17 million. Eventually, a Los Angeles judge froze $2.2 million of K*ar's shares and limited his access to company accounts.

K*ar attempted to produce the now shelved Bartholomew vs. Neff, a John Hughes film which would have starred Stallone and John Candy.

Carolco lost about $47 million on Cutthroat Island and went into bankruptcy in November 1995, six weeks before the film was released to theatres. Nevertheless, K*ar received his $1 million fee.

Post-bankruptcy

Paramount and Lolita

In the wake of Carolco's collapse, K*ar shifted his employment to Paramount Pictures and started Mario K*ar Productions. Sherry Lansing, chairman of Paramount, said: "I am thrilled that Mario will be making his new home at Paramount. Mario excels at producing major action-adventure films with high level directors and cast that have worldwide appeal. He also brings creative financial arrangements to the films he makes. We all look forward to our new relationship with him and the exciting projects he will bring to the studio."

Mario K*ar said: "I have the highest regard for Sherry Lansing and the rest of the Paramount team. Jon Dolgen and I have had a great working relationship for years. Since I've always worked outside the studio system, I am very happy to begin my post-Carolco career with a studio as flexible, dynamic and creative as Paramount. I can't wait to make films in such an environment."

K*ar also executive produced Lolita (1997), which was directed by Adrian Lyne and starred Jeremy Irons, Melanie Griffith and Dominique Swain.

C2 Pictures and Magnetik Media

In 1998, he reunited with Vajna again and together they founded C2 Pictures, which produced I Spy (2002), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) and Basic Instinct 2 (2006). K*ar later confirmed on March 11, 2009, that as a result of the latter movie being a failure at the box office, plans for a third chapter were shelved and C2 Pictures officially ended the Basic Instinct/Catherine Tramell franchise. C2 Pictures was later disbanded afterwards and it was later revealed that Vajna and K*ar founded the company only for the purpose of reviving the Terminator franchise.

K*ar also co-founded Magnetik Media with Erick J. Feitshans and it was announced on May 15, 2007, that Magnetik Media signed 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) from Ryan Kavanaugh's studio, Relativity Media.

Late 2000s

According to Today's Zaman, it was announced on August 7, 2008, that K*ar was reportedly collaborating with the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation on a miniseries that would recount the life of Suleiman the Magnificent.

It was reported that K*ar also participated on Terminator Salvation (2009). However, it was later revealed that he and Vajna sold the franchise to Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek of the Halcyon Group in 2007. K*ar received $30 million for the purchase.

Audition and Brick Top

The Hollywood Reporter announced on October 4, 2012, that K*ar was backing Schuyler Moore, who is helping raise $100 million for the Singapore-based Infiniti Media Fund.

In June 2014, it was reported that K*ar will be producing an English language remake of Takashi Miike's 1999 film, Audition, which is based on the 1997 novel of the same name by Ryū Murakami. K*ar's remake will be set in the United States and will be written and directed by Richard Gray.

On November 24, 2014, Brick Top Productions had entered into an Executive Services Agreement with K*ar. Alexander Bafer, Brick Top's CEO said, "There is no human being on this planet better than Mario K*ar at making true Hollywood blockbusters. I am honored with this opportunity to work with him."

Carolco relaunch

On January 20, 2015, it was announced that Carolco Pictures was back when Brick Top acquired its name. Brick Top Productions officially changed its corporate name to Carolco Pictures Inc.

On February 17, 2015, it was announced that K*ar had returned as chairman of the board of directors of the currently relaunched Carolco Pictures. "One of my greatest joys in life was being the chairman of Carolco Pictures ... I am elated to return to that position, to produce the world's greatest movies once again under the Carolco brand for my fans and people everywhere to enjoy," K*ar said.

"The major difference between now and then are the advances in technology and cinematography not previously available to Carolco Pictures 20 years ago," K*ar said. "Combined with these advances ... the best movies I will ever produce are still yet to come." Alex Bafer, now Carolco Pictures’ CEO, said K*ar "is hands-down the world's greatest producer of mega-hit films. We couldn't be more excited than to have Mario return as the chairman of the board. Our goal now is to not only restore the Carolco brand back to its rightful place in Hollywood, but also to build an entirely new library of memorable films for today's generation."

In November 2017, the new Carolco was renamed Recall Studios.

Personal life

K*ar resides in Holmby Hills with his wife Denise Richard-K*ar and their three daughters, Natasha, Tatiana and Anastasia.

Filmography

Executive producer

  • The Changeling (1980)
  • The Amateur (1981)
  • Supers*ion (1982)
  • First Blood (1982)
  • Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
  • Angel Heart (1987)
  • Extreme Prejudice (1987)
  • Rambo III (1988)
  • Red Heat (1988)
  • DeepStar Six (1989)
  • Johnny Handsome (1989)
  • Mountains of the Moon (1990)
  • Total Recall (1990)
  • Air America (1990)
  • Repossessed (1990)
  • Narrow Margin (1990)
  • Jacob's Ladder (1990)
  • L.A. Story (1991)
  • The Doors (1991)
  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  • Rambling Rose (1991)
  • Light Sleeper (1992)
  • Basic Instinct (1992)
  • Universal Soldier (1992)
  • Cliffhanger (1993)
  • Heaven & Earth (1993)
  • Stargate (1993)
  • Last of the Dogmen (1995)
  • Showgirls (1995)
  • Cutthroat Island (1995)
  • Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008–09)
  • Terminator Salvation (2009)
  • Foxtrot Six (2019)

Producer

  • Chaplin (1992)
  • Lolita (1997)
  • I Spy (2002)
  • Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
  • Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
  • Z (2019)
  • The Z Team (TBA)

Writer

  • Habibie & Ainun 3 (2019)

Actor

  • Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid (1981)

Presenter

  • The Silent Partner (1978)
  • The Changeling (1980)
  • Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid (1981)
  • Supers*ion (1982)
  • First Blood (1982)
  • Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
  • Extreme Prejudice (1987)
  • Red Heat (1988)
  • DeepStar Six (1989)
  • Johnny Handsome (1989)
  • Total Recall (1990)
  • Air America (1990)
  • Narrow Margin (1990)
  • L.A. Story (1991)
  • The Doors (1991)
  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  • Light Sleeper (1992)
  • Basic Instinct (1992)
  • Universal Soldier (1992)
  • Chaplin (1992)
  • Cliffhanger (1993)
  • Last of the Dogmen (1995)
  • Cutthroat Island (1995)
  • Lolita (1997)

Thanks

  • Hamlet (1990)
  • The Directors (2007) (Do*entary)
  • Showgirls 2: Penny's from Heaven (2011) (Direct-to-video)

References

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mario K*ar.
    • Official website
    • Mario K*ar at IMDb
    Mario Kassar