Ascendant Shrinks (November 6, 2007)

[Bandit LOAF]

There are rumors of a shakeup at Chris Roberts' production company, Ascendant Pictures! The company's 'Team' website was recently cut down, removing mention of studio founders' Kia Jam and Christopher Eberts as well as Finance Advisor Robert Norton and Director of Development Jodi Heaston (an old version of the page is available here, courtesy of The Internet Archive). In their place is new Production Counsel Ortwin Freyermuth. AD notes that Freyermuth was the producer of the Das Boot director's cut... maybe he's here to help recut Das Boot in Space? Almost certainly not... but it should be interesting to watch what Chris Roberts is up to here.

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Original update published on November 6, 2007

 

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Apparently, from what I've been able to glean off the internet, Christopher Eberts left fairly early in the year (possibly even late last year) and formed a new company with another guy called Rifkin-Eberts. All of Kia Jams new production credits are under this company.

As far as productions that were in the planning stages, It seems some went with them when they left the company. Black Water Transit is still listed on Ascendants site. However, instead of starting filming in January, they delayed production untill after the move and the movie was filmed starting in april with a new cast and director under the Rifkin-Eberts label. Chris Roberts still has a executive producer credit, but Ascendant is no longer a production company, It's hard to say how financing worked out on that project at this time though. Similarly, Who's your caddy was somehow a joint production between Ascendant and Rifkin Eberts.

Questions unanswered are What are Ascendant Pictures plans post Outlander, which should be finishing up production any minute. Did chris buy out the others? (Eberts was co-owner/co-founder of ascendant)

What does Freyermuth have to do with all this?

 

[ELTEE]

I dont know much about him, but does anyone think that Chris Roberts will ever return to Wing Commander, either in movie form or otherwise?

Obviously EA still has the rights to the games, but I'm talking in general...

 

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I dont know much about him, but does anyone think that Chris Roberts will ever return to Wing Commander, either in movie form or otherwise?

Obviously EA still has the rights to the games, but I'm talking in general...

I think it's possible. He mentioned an interest as little as a year ago.