Reese Witherspoon Splits From Producing Partner Bruna Papandrea
Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea, who co-founded the production company Pacific Standard, are going their separate ways. Witherspoon will retain control of Pacific Standard while Papandrea will move on to other ventures.
The duo have been running Pacific Standard since 2012, producing Gone Girl, Wild and Hot Pursuit through the company. Gone Girl was a breakout hit, collecting $369.3 million worldwide, while Wild earned Witherspoon a best actress Oscar nomination and Laura Dern a best supporting actress nom. Hot Pursuit, however, stumbled at the box office, earning just $51.7 million.
Pacific Standard’s latest project, HBO series Big Little Lies, is slated to debut in 2017. It stars Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley.
“I’m very proud of the projects that Bruna and I have produced together,” Witherspoon said Thursday in a statement. “Bruna is a hard-working, extremely talented producer. I’m happy to further collaborate with her on the strong slate of Pacific Standard properties. ”
Witherspoon and Papandrea have been acquiring a slew of material, mainly books, over the past couple of years. They will continue to produce the projects they have in development together, including the ABC series Broken starring Anna Paquin, an adaptation of Luckiest Girl Alive with Lionsgate and Barbie and Ruth, the story of the woman who created Barbie.
Witherspoon continues to act while producing, most recently doing voice work for the upcoming animated film Sing and starring in Big Little Lies. She also launched the fashion line Draper James. Papandrea, originally from Australia, previously produced Warm Bodies, Smart People, Milk and All Good Things before starting Pacific Standard.
(THR)