Nathanson Is Named Head of MGM Pictures

Michael Nathanson, a former Columbia Pictures production executive who most recently headed Arnon Milchan’s New Regency Productions, has been named president and chief operating officer of MGM Pictures.

He replaces Mike Marcus, who resigned from the studio last week.

Nathanson obtained early release from his New Regency contract in order to take the job. He had served as chairman and chief executive of the Warner Bros.-based production company for the last three years, during which time he oversaw such movies as “Time to Kill,” “Tin Cup,” “Natural Born Killers,” “Heat” and two “Free Willy” sequels.

New Regency President David Matalon said that Nathanson’s hiring “happened with our blessing” and that conversations with MGM Chairman Frank Mancuso about the executive’s release from his contract actually led to discussions about the possibility of the two companies co-financing some movies.

Matalon said he will assume Nathanson’s duties until a replacement can be found.

For Nathanson, joining MGM is a homecoming of sorts. The 41-year-old executive had worked at the studio and its sister company, United Artists, from 1980 to 1984.

Nathanson said he is looking forward to fulfilling his mandate “to make good and successful movies and rebuild the company.” The studio experienced an impressive turnaround when Mancuso and his original management team came aboard about 3 1/2 years ago.

It has since been struggling to regain its momentum. Production came to a standstill during the period the company was for sale, and its recent sporadic releases have under-performed.

Despite rumors that the company is operating with limited long-term funds, Mancuso has maintained that MGM is financially healthy and getting back on track under its new ownership of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian and Australia’s Network Seven.

Before joining New Regency, Nathanson was a senior production executive at Columbia Pictures. After serving as president of worldwide production, he was moved into a less defined role as executive vice president.

Nathanson came under intense media scrutiny in 1994, when he issued an unsolicited public denial of any involvement with Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. His denial of rumors that he used film development money to procure prostitutes shocked the studio management since he had never been named in connection with Fleiss.