Erik Lomis Remembered By Hollywood Colleagues And Friends: “A Part Of The Industry Has Died With Him Today”, Barbara Broccoli Says

deadline.com:

The death of MGM distribution chief Erik Lomis on Wednesday has shocked many around Hollywood. More than just being a sage to filmmakers and executives about the motion picture business, Lomis was known for his generosity fundraising with the Will Rogers Institute, cultivating others’ careers, and even being a mentor to many in their personal lives. “I don’t think the industry will realize until a couple of months from now how Erik Lomis was George Bailey,” EDO box office analytics partner Derek McLay, a former lieutenant of Lomis’ during the distribution exec’s early MGM days, told Deadline. “He was so many things to so many people that he touched and did quietly, and he’s intertwined in everything we do.” Lomis oversaw the distribution of several 007 films including Daniel Craig’s swan song, No Time to Die, as well as the Pierce Brosnan cannon Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day to name a few in a decades long working relationship with Eon Productions’ Barbara Broccoli and Michael G.

Wilson. Lomis was the first distribution exec in Hollywood to pivot and protect No Time to Die from Covid, foreseeing the pandemic’s impact on global exhibition before other studios followed suit.

Lomis held tight on the film, championing continually for the pic’s future theatrical release over any options for a streaming or theatrical-day-and-date PVOD release.

No Time to Die was the fourth highest grossing movie of 2021 making over $774M worldwide. Lomis was also the host and a key organizer of Broccoli and Wilson’s tribute at last fall’s 2022 Pioneer Dinner.