John Gore Studios Acquires Tyburn Films – Expanding its Global IP and Film Catalogue
John Gore Studios today announced the acquisition of Tyburn Film Productions Limited, along with the entirety of its film and television catalogue. Tyburn is one of the longest established British production companies – particularly known for its cult horror classics, acclaimed thrillers, and...
johngorestudios.com
John Gore Studios today announced the acquisition of
Tyburn Film Productions Limited, along with the entirety of its film and television catalogue. Tyburn is one of the longest established British production companies – particularly known for its cult horror classics, acclaimed thrillers, and collaborations with screen legends including Peter Cushing, John Mills, Ray Milland, Christopher Lee, Anne Baxter and Lana Turner.
The deal marks an expansion of John Gore Studios’ international footprint into the world of legacy IP, unlocking a rich library of prestige British cinema and paving the way for future adaptations, remakes, prequels and sequels on a variety of platforms.
Award winning entertainment producer
John Gore, a 25-time Tony winner, as well as a recipient of 2 Emmys and 2 Oliviers and
Executive Chairman of John Gore Studios says, “Tyburn Films was a genre pioneer, elevating British horror and thrillers to new heights of storytelling. We see this acquisition as an opportunity to honour that legacy while imagining bold new futures for these stories across today’s global platforms.”
This move reflects John Gore Studios’ ongoing strategy to expand into IP-led media through the acquisition and revitalisation of iconic film libraries and heritage brands. The acquisition of Tyburn, alongside their other acquisitions, underscores the studio’s commitment to curating, restoring, and reimagining legacy content for new global audiences across film, television, and beyond.
Founded in 1971 by
Kevin Francis,
Tyburn earned a dedicated following for its gothic horror films (
The Ghoul,
Legend of the Werewolf,
The Creeping Flesh, etc.) and psychological thrillers (
Persecution,
Murder Elite, etc.). The company’s slate is distinguished by its atmospheric productions, iconic casting, and literary ambition, making it a prized catalogue for modern reimagining.
Kevin Francis, founder of
Tyburn, commented: “After 54 years with Tyburn, it is time for me to take things a little easier. Over the next year, I shall continue with Tyburn and assist in consolidating it within the John Gore Studios Group. I cannot think of a better future home for Tyburn and its catalogue – John Gore Studios understands both the tradition and opportunity which come with Tyburn.”
The acquisition includes all rights to Tyburn’s filmography, including:
- The Creeping Flesh (1973) Starring: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Lorna Heilbron
- The Ghoul (1975) Starring: Peter Cushing, John Hurt, Gwen Watford, Alexandra Bastedo
- Legend of the Werewolf (1975) Starring: Peter Cushing, Ron Moody, Hugh Griffith
- Persecution (1974) Starring: Lana Turner and Trevor Howard
- The Masks of Death (1984) Starring: Peter Cushing, John Mills, Anne Baxter
- Murder Elite (1985) Starring: Ali MacGraw, Billie Whitelaw, Hywell Bennett
- Peter Cushing: A One-Way Ticket to Hollywood (Documentary) (1990) – Peter Cushing (in interview with Dick Vosburgh) Featuring archival footage with Laurel & Hardy, Laurence Olivier and from Star Wars, Nineteen Eighty-Four and more.
John Gore Studios’ CEO, Hilary Strong, has a wealth of experience in both intellectual property and rights optimisation. Her established track record of launching successful film and television productions, combined with managing prestigious IP and literary estates, makes her uniquely positioned to help drive and deliver exciting new opportunities in which both classic and new storytelling thrive.
John Gore Studios’ Chief Acquisitions Officer, Jonathan Lack, orchestrates the company’s expansion across entertainment and media through the acquisition of catalogues, intellectual property and production companies.
Jonathan Lack says: “Smart strategic acquisitions such as Tyburn are designed to unlock world class creative possibilities. It is truly exhilarating to be able to give these titles the opportunity to be discovered by a new global audience and to be reimagined for future generations to enjoy.”
John Gore Studios launched in January this year and announced the inclusion of: Hammer Films, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in November 2024; Silver Salt Restoration, a leading UK film restoration studio; and all-rights international sales and UK distribution group, KFILM Ltd. The studio also recently announced a majority investment into UK production company Hilltop Screen, significantly expanding the group’s production capabilities. Together, these companies provide a fully integrated production pipeline for the studio to fulfil its mission to restore, create and innovate existing IP and take it to the global market in an exciting and invigorating way.
This year the company embarked on an ambitious restoration programme of Hammer’s classic films from the archive. The 4K restorations, newly restored by Silver Salt Restoration, are being released as meticulously curated Limited Collector’s Editions and are distributed theatrically, digitally and physically in the UK by Icon Film Distribution, part of KFILM Ltd.
John Gore Studios will restore Tyburn’s existing IP via Silver Salt Restoration for 4K premium releases and will also develop new production pipelines rooted in Tyburn IP, with select titles already under early development for adaptation.
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