‘Inglourious Basterds’, ‘John Wick 4’ Producer Henning Molfenter Launches Babelsberg Production Group (Exclusive)

Henning Molfenter, the long-time head of production at storied German backlot Studio Babelsberg, has set up his own shingle, Babelsberg Production Group, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Molfenter has been head of film and TV production at Studio Babelsberg since 2004, overseeing the production of such features as Roman Polanski’s The Pianist, Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, and the Russo Brothers’ Captain America: Civil War. He is leaving the studio when his current contract expires at the end of this year, to be replaced by Marcus Loges.

With his new company, Molfenter will offer production services and co-production support for international film and TV productions looking to shooting in Germany and across Europe. “We hope to become the go-to service company for producers looking to shoot here,” Molfenter told THR.

Babelsberg Production Group will not develop its own IP but will service visiting productions and can come on board as a German co-producer on projects to access local subsidies and tax incentives.

With his decades of experience in servicing visiting Hollywood tentpoles — from The Bourne Supremacy to The Matrix Resurrections, John Wick: Chapter 4 and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes — Molfenter says he is looking to work with “the biggest productions” out there, but is also equipped to collaborate with smaller indie films. “From $10 million to $150 million, all are welcome,” he says.

Molfenter’s exit from Studio Babelsberg coincides with the company’s takeover by TPG Real Estate, a U.S. investment group that also owns Cinespace Studios backlots in Chicago and Toronto. With his smaller, bespoke operation, Molfenter believes he will be more flexible and better equiped to deal with demands of visiting producers.

The new company will officially launch in January.