Revered distribution executive Erik Lomis was consigliere to many: Tom Cruise, Ryan Coogler, Paul Thomas Anderson and Michael B. Jordan, among others.
On Oct. 4, he posthumously will receive the Will Rogers Pioneer Award, which honors top Hollywood veterans for their leadership and service. The event will double as an industry tribute.
From left: Lomis with Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson at last year’s Pioneer dinner.
Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
Lomis, who died suddenly in March at age 64, handled hundreds of films during his career, including a slew of Oscar contenders. He did several stints at MGM, where he became the James Bond whisperer and worked closely with 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Lomis was in charge of the domestic release of the latest installment, No Time to Die, and successfully navigated having to delay the movie several times because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“His dedication to our films was limitless. He would do everything in his power to make them a success,” Wilson and Broccoli tell The Hollywood Reporter. “On opening weekends, we were always greeted with crack-of-dawn calls from Erik, who had been up for hours getting the figures. We always knew he was in our corner, willing us to win.”
The duo — who received the Pioneer Award at last year’s ceremony, which Lomis emceed — added that his reactions to early cuts of Bond films are their favorite memories of him. “His excitement was so encouraging to us.”
Lomis with his wife, Patricia Laucella.
Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
Lomis also did a long run at The Weinstein Co., where he formed lasting relationships with top filmmakers including Anderson and Coogler, who became a breakout sensation with the release of 2013’s Fruitvale Station. Later, Lomis helped Coogler connect with one of Lomis’ old pals, Sylvester Stallone, when Coogler mentioned he had an idea for reviving the Rocky franchise. That idea would become the popular Creed franchise (MGM’s Creed III, which Jordan directed, was the last movie Lomis released).
“Erik loved what he did, and he went out on top,” says his wife, Patricia Laucella, who is head of business affairs at Lionsgate. “He was always helping others. He was a true mentor, and far more generous with his time than anybody I know.”
It wasn’t uncommon for filmmakers, producers and stars to call Lomis for advice even when he wasn’t directly involved in a movie’s release. One longtime fan was Cruise, who worked with Lomis when they were both at United Artists (they traveled the globe together promoting 2008’s Valkyrie).
“Erik was such a force and a true trailblazer in the theatrical business,” says MGM Studios chief Jennifer Salke.
In advance of the Oct. 4 tribute, Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca, who worked with Lomis at MGM before they left to run Warner Bros. Pictures, spoke with THR about the man behind the legend.
Erik Lomis (right) with Paul Thomas Anderson; they worked closely on the release of Licorice Pizza.
Eric Charbonneau
What made Erik so unique?
MICHAEL DE LUCA He always spoke from the heart and had a huge spirit. He let you know exactly how he felt with the bluntest language possible. When Pam and I were losing projects to streamers during the pandemic because we couldn’t compete in terms of offers, Erik would ask what happened and we’d tell him. He’d say, “Those fucking streamers! I don’t care what anyone says, they are TV movies.”
What was it about him that filmmakers were drawn to?
PAMELA ABDY He wasn’t just a distribution executive, he was a film lover, he loved cinema. He would tell stories about how he started out as an usher and how his dad worked in the theater business.
DE LUCA With talent, it’s always about your availability, transparency and honesty, no matter how the movie is doing. A filmmaker doesn’t want you to sugarcoat anything or hold back information. Erik was a five-star rating on all fronts.
What was your ritual for opening weekend?
ABDY We would get on a Zoom call with Erik at 7 a.m. He had already been up and couldn’t wait to talk.
Speaking of stressful, MGM had to delay No Time to Die many times before it came out in U.S. theaters in October 2021. Was there a point where it seemed hopeless?
Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
ABDY Erik was calm throughout the whole process.
DE LUCA There’s only one James Bond, and no one wanted to make a bad decision. We were the first studio to move a big title because of COVID, so it wasn’t an easy decision. But Erik stood up and said, “We need to move. I’ll talk to exhibition, and it’ll be fine.” And it was. Because he was so trusted, he could be that tip of the spear.
What is Erik’s lasting contribution?
DE LUCA We intersected with him at a time when it wasn’t a sure thing that theatrical was going to have a future. There were a lot of naysayers, but he never lost faith. He never gave up. He’d say the need, or desire, to experience a story communally isn’t going anywhere. In retrospect, he’s been proved right.
Did his brash humor ever worry you?
DE LUCA No.
ABDY He was an original. He constantly called me “kid,” by the way. I was 100 percent there for it. We just love him and miss him and think about him all the time.
From left: Creed director Ryan Coogler with stars Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan. Lomis, who distributed Coogler’s first feature, Fruitvale Station, for The Weinstein Co., would later connect the helmer with his pal Stallone. Creed III was the last movie he would release.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Interview edited for length and clarity.
A version of this story first appeared in the Sept. 27 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
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