Sports stars Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Derrick Brooks and Michael Finley have joined Argent Pictures
NFL quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, NBA all-star guard Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs, retired NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, and retired NBA all-star Michael Finley have become partners in Argent Pictures, the Los Angeles-based film production and financing outfit founded by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo.
Brees, Parker, Brooks and Finley have all been producing films over the last few years, collaborating with Argent Pictures on single-picture projects. Argent Pictures is known for working on films like American Made, starring Tom Cruise, Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation, Hacksaw Ridge and Chasing Coral for Netflix.
Upcoming movie collaborations include the action/thriller Nomis, starring Alexandra Daddario, Henry Cavill and Ben Kingsley; Rob Reiner’s drama Shock & Awe, starring Jessica Biel and Woody Harrelson; the next two installments of Sylvester Stallone’s Escape Plan franchise; and First To Do It – a documentary about the first African American professional basketball player, Earl Lloyd.
The all-star quartet (Brees, Parker, Finley, Brooks) have come onboard as active producers to film projects currently on Argent Pictures’ development slate. Argent will continue to develop/finance/produce anywhere from three to six projects a year.
Brooks said, “What attracted me to Argent is that it is a company that puts material first and will develop and explore original and unique themes and subject matters that can be fully exploited. We have collectively developed a solid business strategy encompassing a diverse portfolio of projects, which I am very excited to help get off the ground and shepherd.”
Brees stated, “For me, being in the film business is about being able to tell stories and having a viable vehicle to do so. We are all inspired by stories with motivating messages yet are highly entertaining. Within Argent, we have by design, an expansive and efficient network through which we can identify and pursue the best projects and material and collaborate with any filmmakers around the globe to build a diverse slate. I am thrilled to be a part of the Argent family.”
Said Parker, “I’ve known Ben for a while and have tremendous respect for the approach and dedication to the business that he, Jill and Ryan exhibit. I am excited to be aligned with great like-minded partners who will aggressively pursue development material that we’re excited to finance and produce.”
Said Finley, “Ben, Jill and Ryan are incredibly savvy producers and I have a great deal of admiration and respect for their track record of finding tremendous material and shepherding it through to the big screen. Beyond the impressive credits and history of success, what makes this attractive is that we share a common vision – not just on taste and preferences of films, but on the execution of a partnership that will bring high quality, very entertaining films to the marketplace.”
