Sue Kroll Launches Kroll & Co. Shingle on Warners Lot; Mark Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock to Star in First Projects

Having made her mark as one of Hollywood’s top studio executives over the past two decades, Sue Kroll is now launching her own production company, which will be based on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.

Under her new banner Kroll & Co. Entertainment, Kroll is already involved in the production and development of a wide range of feature film projects, teaming her with some of the noted filmmakers and actors with whom she has collaborated over the course of her illustrious career. Kroll will also look to develop television and digital properties, as well as other content.

Kroll is attached as an executive producer to a number of films currently scheduled for release through Warner Bros., and she has expanded her slate to include new projects in various stages of development. As a producer, Kroll’s upcoming projects include the sci-fi action thriller Nemesis with producers Ridley Scott and Jules Daly; the YA drama The Selection with producers Denise Di Novi and Pouya Shahbazian; an untitled comedy starring Sandra Bullock, who will also produce with Michael Bostick; and the action thriller The Six Billion Dollar Man, which will go into production soon with Mark Wahlberg starring and producing alongside Stephen Levinson, Bill Gerber, Scott Faye and Karen Lauder.

In addition, Kroll is also an executive producer on Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut A Star is Born and Edward Norton’s directorial debut Motherless Brooklyn. The latter film is based on the award-winning book by Jonathan Lethem, which was adapted by Norton, who also stars and produces. Cooper also pulls quadruple-duty with A Star is Born, which he co-wrote, directed, produced and stars in opposite Lady Gaga. That film is slated for release on Oct. 5 and is already drumming up awards buzz in certain circles.

Finally, Kroll will serve as an executive producer on The Goldfinch, which is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Donna Tartt. John Crowley is directing the film, which will star Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman.

“My passion for film and television and for telling great stories is not only the cornerstone of my wonderful career, but has also been a huge part of my life since I was a young girl enthralled by the moving image,” said Kroll. “I am excited to be collaborating in this new capacity with amazing, visionary filmmakers, many of whom I have known and worked with, and to also champion new and unique voices. This is just the beginning and I am thrilled about our slate of films and our incredible filmmaking partners.”

“Over the years, I have seen Sue in action as one of the most inspired marketing minds in the industry, most recently on the campaign for Ready Player One. I trust her instincts, appreciate her unflagging devotion to her work, and admire her knowledge of film. I am looking forward to collaborating with her in her new capacity as a producer in the very near future,” said Steven Spielberg.

“I have been fortunate to know and work with Sue Kroll for more than 10 years, and have appreciated her friendship as well as her counsel. She has a personal investment in everything she does, and I have no doubt, she will bring that same level of care, commitment and creativity to producing. Simply put, Sue is the gold standard,” said Cooper.

“Sue Kroll is universally loved by the filmmakers that have been lucky enough to work with her and has both great taste and real wisdom about how to engage audiences. It’s wonderful news that she’ll be producing films and she’s already brought important long lead strategy and foresight to our production. I feel like we’ve won the lottery to have our film be one of the first she’ll collaborate with in this role,” added Norton.

Rounding out Kroll & Co. Entertainment are Jennifer Malloy as SVP of Development and Production; Olivia Heighten as Creative Executive; longtime Kroll staffer Chelsea Bradshaw as Operations/Production Executive; and administrative assistant Nicole Kraft.

Throughout her studio career, Kroll has worked closely with some of the most respected directors in the industry, including Clint Eastwood, Christopher Nolan, Patty Jenkins, Ben Affleck, David Yates, Alfonso Cuarón, Zack Snyder, Todd Phillips, Peter Jackson, George Miller, the Wachowskis, Nancy Meyers, Robert Zemeckis, Guillermo del Toro and Spielberg.

Kroll most recently served as President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, which she first joined in 1994. During her tenure, the studio consistently ranked as one of the industry’s most creatively and financially successful.  Last year was the biggest year in the WB’s history, with $5.13 billion in global box office — the second time it has passed the $5 billion mark. The film division crossed the $1 billion mark domestically and internationally in each of the last 18 years, which is an industry record.

Under her marketing leadership, Warner Bros. won a Best Picture Oscar for Argo, as well as a Best Animated Feature Oscar for Happy Feet, in addition to Best Picture nominations for Dunkirk, The Blind Side, Inception, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Gravity, Her, American Sniper, Mad Max: Fury Road and Letters from Iwo Jima.

Other films for which she oversaw marketing include some of the most popular and profitable of the last two decades, including Wonder Woman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and all eight Harry Potter films, among many others.

 Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief